Just days after officially announcing his switch to professional boxing, Nelson Asofa-Solomona has revealed his genuine fears for the future of ‘big men’ in the NRL.
Speaking on SEN radio, the 29-year-old Kiwi expressed sadness at the way the game has changed around him during a 215-game NRL career that began when he was signed by the Melbourne Storm as a 15-year old.
“I’ve been moulded around the game of rugby league, but the game has changed, it’s very frustrating and I couldn’t be further away right now with where my head’s at,” Asofa-Solomona said, explaining he’s not sure what—if any—role players like him have in the NRL’s future.
“Before you know it you’re just going to have shorter, stockier players in rugby league, especially in my position as a middle forward,” he said.
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“You look around the (NRL) rosters and there’s no-one quite like me,” Asofa-Solomona continued.
“Definitely the big man is being phased out of the game—which is sad, there should always be a space for guys like myself, six foot seven, 130kg, but it is what it is and ultimately I just didn’t adapt well to the game (as it has changed).”
‘I t was a bit of a joke by that point’ says Nelson
Explaining more of his reasons for leaving the Storm after 11 seasons, Asofa-Solomona admitted he’d fallen out of love with rugby league.
“Over time things change, people change and just being in and out of the team, also missing a couple of grand finals really hurt,” he said, referring to consecutive seasons that ended prematurely through suspension.
“The first one was tough, I thought I was really hard done by, it was just a freakish accident (high tackle on Lindsay Collins in the opening moments of the 2024 NRL preliminary final), then by the time the second one came around I just accepted it—I was over it, it was a bit of a joke by that point.”
While acknowledging he’ll miss the Storm, Asofa-Solomona explained the time was right to begin a new athletic career in the boxing ring.
“I’m going to miss the joint (Melbourne), I’ve had a lot of great memories there, but it’s just on to the next chapter now,” he said.
“The situation was quite mutual, the club wanted to part ways and I just thought it was time as well.
“I guess with Paps (Ryan Papenhuyzen) leaving, and Jonah (Pezet), my situation was a bit validated.”