'A real gentleman': Raiders team-mates stand up for banned Sia Soliola | Sport

'A real gentleman': Raiders team-mates stand up for banned Sia Soliola | Sport

Canberra’s Junior Paulo insists team-mate Sia Soliola will learn from his five-week NRL suspension for knocking out Melbourne’s Billy Slater.

Paulo backed his fellow forward to train hard during his ban before returning in the final round of the season, coincidentally against the Storm.

“Five weeks on the sidelines for Sia but it doesn’t change who he is as a person off the field,” Paulo said. “Sia will cop it on the chin. I’m sure everyone learns their lesson on the field.”

Soliola’s brutal high shot on Slater in last week’s match at GIO Stadium sparked the most anticipated judiciary hearing of the season on Tuesday night.

Paulo had breakfast with Soliola on Wednesday and said he was in good spirits despite the ban.

“Everyone loves having Sia around,” Paulo said. “He’s one of those blokes who really get the team going and lifts everyone’s spirits when he steps into a room.”

Soliola’s suspension is a blow for the Raiders ahead of Saturday’s match against South Sydney, a game in which the club’s forwards depth will come under the microscope.

Veteran Jeff Lima has been recalled to the bench for his third game of the season, while Joe Tapine and Luke Bateman have been named to start.

Canberra are still without star second-rower Josh Papalii who is serving the second week of a two-game ban.

Meanwhile, Slater said he expects to only miss one round of the NRL, saying he’s “feeling OK” as he recovers from the brutal high shot.

The Melbourne superstar posted on Twitter on Tuesday that he was missing the Storm’s clash with Manly on Sunday as a precautionary measure but hoped to return to face North Queensland the following Friday night in Townsville.

“Feeling ok after the weekend. Not playing this week as a precaution, but will be back next week. Thanks for the messages,” Slater tweeted.

The NRL judiciary heard in a medical report from Storm doctor that Slater could not remember the match or his previous fortnight, including Queensland’s triumphant Origin decider.

Slater’s team-mate Cooper Cronk on Tuesday said the Melbourne fullback was still nursing a sore head from the hit.

قالب وردپرس

Tweet

Subscribe to receive free email updates: