But that case centred on whether the actions of Maiu’u should be deemed reckless, whereas Asofa-Solomona has the far greater task of convincing the judiciary his grading for a careless tackle was severely disproportionate.
Collins didn’t return to the game after the opening 10 seconds.
“I thought it was too high,” league legend Brad Fittler told The Footy Show. “I can’t understand why they would need to go to grade three. He needs to be able to defend himself. Lindsay obviously got concussed and I feel for Lindsay.
“I feel like [Asofa-Solomona] deserves the chance to defend himself. Unless Melbourne are short of cash, you’re coming up [to the judiciary]. Surely, you give it a try.”
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Ironically, the Storm were looking at another tackle of Asofa-Solomona’s only last month when he was slapped with a grade one careless high tackle charge on Penrith’s Daine Laurie, which also caused friendly fire to teammate Cameron Munster.
Privately, Melbourne powerbrokers are surprised by the grading of Asofa-Solomona’s charge, but know they’re a better team when the 28-year-old is on the park.
Fisher-Harris joked “maybe he could miss one week”.
“We want to play everyone at their best,” Fisher-Harris said. “As a competitor, that’s what you want to do. I feel for him, bro. He’s a Kiwi teammate and it’s just tough. I’m so scared to do something like that because I know you’ll be out for a couple of weeks.”
