Smith's admission after 'frustrating' ban for ex-teammate

Cameron Smith has conceded the latest suspension for Nelson Asofa-Solomona would be "highly frustrating" for those involved at the Storm.

The giant front-rower has had an extremely disrupted season, having spent the start of 2025 still serving a ban from last year that saw him miss the grand final.

Once he worked his way back into the first grade side, Asofa-Solomona was in and out of the Melbourne line-up and copped a two-game suspension after the round 20 loss at the hands of Manly for an elbow on Jake Simpkin.

READ MORE: Sharks villain's hilarious reaction to top award nomination

READ MORE: In-demand Bombers star makes call amid three-club race

READ MORE: Gould calls for change to 'murder trial' judiciary system

In just his second game back from that suspension, the New Zealand international was sin binned against the Broncos last Thursday night and has since been slapped with a three-game ban, ruling him out until the grand final, at best, if the Storm make it that far.

His latest indiscretion - a grade two careless high tackle - has raised concerns for club legend Smith, who admitted the 201cm giant needed to alter his tackling style.

"He can change, it's a technique thing," Smith said on Nine's 100% Footy.

"Nelson Asofa-Solomona is about seven foot tall, so it's pretty hard to get down.

"But think back to 12 months ago, he missed the grand final because of a suspension - he got done for a shoulder charge on Lindsay Collins.

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

"I believe in that grand final, if Nelson was a part of that game, I think Storm win.

"He's a huge loss. If you get Nelson on his game, he's one of the best front-rowers in the game when he's got his head on and is playing well. He could really break a game open and he will be sorely missed this week.

"I think it would be highly frustrating for Craig Bellamy at the moment." 

Asofa-Solomona still has two years to run on his contract with the Storm, but has frequently been linked with an early exit.

He has played 215 games for Melbourne since making his NRL debut a decade ago and was involved in premiership victories for the club in 2017 and 2020. 

Melbourne will take on the Bulldogs in a qualifying final on Friday night at AAMI Park.