Storm lose $2.6m trio to put premiership tilt on the rocks

Melbourne’s finals campaign is in dire straits before it starts with Jahrome Hughes and Nelson Asofa-Solomona both facing early ends to their seasons and Ryan Papenhuyzen out of next week’s qualifying final against Canterbury.

Asofa-Solomona was issued a 3-4 game suspension for a grade 2 careless high tackle on Brisbane’s Ben Talty, compounding Melbourne’s loss of star halfback Jahrome Hughes to a broken wrist on Thursday night.

Papenhuyzen failed a late HIA after he was hit high in the last minute by Broncos centre Josiah Karapani in the 30-14 loss. Karapani was issued a $1000-$1500 fine for the tackle, while the NRL’s mandatory 11-day concussion stand-down protocols will keep Papenhuyzen out of the Storm’s clash against the Bulldogs at AAMI Park.

Livewire fullback Sua Fa’alogo at least made a timely return from a lengthy hamstring lay-off last week in Queensland Cup, while centre Nick Meaney and even star five-eighth Cameron Munster are No.1 fallback options for Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

Hughes is considered unlikely to play again this year as he prepares to undergo scans on Friday. The Dally M medallist’s return from a six-week shoulder lay-off lasted just 25 minutes when his arm was caught awkwardly in an attempted tackle on Brendan Piakura.

Utility Tyran Wishart and promising playmaker Jonah Pezet loom as the Storm’s replacement options once again.

Combined, Hughes, Papenhuyzen and Asofa-Solomona make up more than $2.6 million of Melbourne’s salary cap, with the Storm already drifting from the bookmakers’ premiership-favouritism after Hughes went down at Suncorp Stadium.

Asofa-Solomona’s ordinary judiciary record has amplified the ban, with the high shot on Talty his seventh charge in the past two seasons.

The 29-year-old missed the 2024 grand final loss to Penrith - and the Storm sorely missed his aggression and size - after unsuccessfully pushing for a similar high tackle charge to be downgraded at the judiciary.

Asofa-Solomona’s subsequent five-week ban carried into this season, and was added to with a two-week suspension for elbowing Manly’s Jake Simpkin in the head in July and another high tackle on Rooster Mark Nawaqanitawase last Friday.

An early guilty plea to his latest charge would mean Asofa-Solomona doesn’t play again this season, unless the Storm were to lose their week one finals clash against Canterbury and then play two more games en route to the grand final.

Melbourne could also challenge the charge or appeal for a downgrade at the judiciary, which would risk an extra game’s suspension.

Bulldogs prioritise momentum over fresh legs heading into the finals

Robert Dillon

Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has prioritised momentum ahead of fresh legs as the Bulldogs prepare to use their last-round clash with Cronulla at Accor Stadium on Saturday as a launchpad into the finals.

After the penultimate week of the regular season, the Bulldogs were locked in to qualify in third place in the play-offs, regardless of the result against Cronulla.

Likewise, the Sharks are guaranteed to finish either fifth or sixth, ensuring home-ground advantage in week one of the post-season.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 28-4 win last week against a Penrith team who rested 16 players.

Likewise, after securing the minor premiership last week, Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has given 10 players a spell instead of naming them to play the Dolphins on Sunday.

Ciraldo hasn’t been tempted to follow suit, insisting that winning a tough game against a top-eight opponent will be a better preparation for the finals than taking time off.

“It’s always hard resting in round 27,” Ciraldo said on Friday. “You lose a bit of rhythm going into the finals. We all understand it’s a double-edged sword. They’re going out to play a brutal game tomorrow and anything can happen.

“But the plan’s always been to build our game leading into the finals and manage our loads away from games and during training. That plan won’t change.”

Ciraldo said resting players had not even been a talking point at Belmore this week.

“It’s not a conversation,” he said. “There’s a lot of talk about resting this year – which probably hasn’t happened in the past – because Penrith went and rested at 16. But everyone else is just trying to build their game and get on with it.

“It’s not a conversation. If someone came to me and said they needed a rest, I’d listen to them. But they all want to play. They all love playing in front of their home fans. They love playing with each other. They love competing, and they get to do that again tomorrow night.”

Ciraldo dismissed concerns about his team’s recent performances.

Since an emphatic 42-4 demolition of Manly on July 27, Canterbury have lost three of their past five matches, but the coach declared their form line was “probably better” than during their six-game winning streak to open the season.

“We’re playing against a lot of top-eight opposition now,” he said. “Some of the teams we were playing at the start of the year probably aren’t in the top eight at the moment.

“While we were really consistent at the start of the year - doing a lot of things right – I think there’s some signs in our game that we’re doing a lot of things better right now.”

NFL hopeful who blew Viking horn in Vegas sacked and suspended

The NFL wannabe who was kicked out of Allegiant Stadium shortly after blowing the Viking horn has been cut by the Las Vegas Raiders and suspended for two games.

Tyler Manoa, a 25-year-old defensive tackle, was given the honour of blowing a custom-made horn that was constructed solely for the purposes of marking Canberra’s debut in the United States in the opening round of the season.

Canberra had reached out to a number of celebrities - including Dana White, Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll - in the hope they would be available. When they all declined, Manoa - who is yet to make his run-on NFL debut - was enlisted for the job.

Shortly after blowing the horn, Manoa was ejected from the stadium for misbehaviour in the corporate area. Then a member of the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad, it’s alleged Manoa damaged property inside the restrooms, with some reports suggesting he was also tasered.

Manoa was scheduled to make a guest appearance in the Canberra sheds after their win against the New Zealand Warriors, but was a no-show.

With the NFL season just a month away, the Raiders have cut Manoa, making him a free agent. However, it’s been reported that he will cop a two-game NFL suspension, said to be linked to the Allegiant Stadium incident, that could be a turn-off for prospective employers.The NFL announced on Sunday (AEST) that Manoa had been suspended due to “conduct detrimental to the league”.

Canberra’s stellar performance in Las Vegas has been the springboard to a dominant season in which they claimed their first minor premiership since 1990.

To’o, Kernick crowned Blues’ winners

Christian Nicolussi

Brian To’o has clinched the Brad Fittler Medal for a second time with Olivia Kernick crowned the Origin Player of the Series Award on Monday night.

To’o scored five tries in three games on the left wing for the Blues, including a hat-trick in Perth, but was still unable to help the Blues avoid a humiliating series-decider loss in Sydney.

The 27-year-old To’o will now turn his sights to winning a fifth straight title with the Panthers, and is expected to be part of the returning star cavalry for Saturday’s trip to Wollongong against the Dragons.

Fittler himself let slip on stage how, “I just asked Brian and he said he’s not playing”, but To’o said it was news to him, and was hopeful to be included on the team sheet on Tuesday. The Panthers rested a whopping 16 players against the Bulldogs last week.

“It was a bit of a shock to us, we weren’t expecting that at all,” said To’o, of the mass withdrawals.

“Our commander-in-chief [coach Ivan Cleary] has a plan for everything, and we definitely trust him. I got to spend some quality time with the family and had that little recharge, and now I’m ready to go.

“I’m a big believer everything happens for a reason. Time will tell if we can [go all the way again].”

To’o was joined at The Star by wife Moesha who is 30 weeks pregnant with their second child, a girl, who is due in November “after the Samoan Tests”.

“There are so many people to thank for this award, including my wife whose back is sore, it’s aching, yet she still manages to come here tonight and supports me,” To’o said.

Coach Laurie Daley, who was struggling with his voice on stage, said it was disappointing to “not get the result we deserved” in what was his first series back in charge since 2017.

“But sometimes it takes a setback like that to put you on the right path,” Daley said.

Isaah Yeo, Lindsay Smith, Stephen Crichton and Lindsay Smith were among the other Blues to attend the event that honours the achievements of players and participants across all competitions around the state.

Angus Crichton won last year’s Brad Fittler Medal, with To’o taking home the silverware in 2023.

To’o has 11 Origin tries, the same amount as Blues’ record-holders Josh Addo-Carr and Michael O’Connor.

Payne Haas, the only other Blues player who would have gone close to taking out the top gong, picked up the people’s choice award.

Roosters star Kernick was crowned best womens’ player, while first-year Blues fullback Abbi Church collected the NSW Blues Women’s Award.

Kernick took to the stage earlier in the night to accept the country championships’ player of the year prize for her brother, Jacob, “who can’t be here because he’s on Mad Monday”.

Latrell unlikely for Roosters grudge match

Michael Chammas

South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell is unlikely to be available for Friday night’s grudge match against his old club, the Sydney Roosters, with a neck and back injury.

In a huge boost for the Sydney Roosters’ chances of qualifying for the finals, Mitchell is considered “unlikely” to play for the Bunnies in their final game of 2025.

Mitchell missed the Rabbitohs’ 40-0 win against the Dragons in round 25, but it was expected he would return following last week’s bye.

The NSW and Test star, however, has a neck injury that is causing him issues with his back. He will have to prove his fitness at a training session on Tuesday before the teams are announced at 4pm that afternoon, if he has any chance to play.

Skipper Cameron Murray will also have to train to prove his fitness. He hasn’t played all season due to an Achilles injury suffered in the preseason, but told club staff he will inform them of his decision before the team is named on Tuesday.

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