Nelson Asofa-Solomona has reflected on his success in the boxing ring after a brutal win over Jarrod Wallace, while reaffirming his long-term commitment to the Melbourne Storm.
The enforcer inked a four-year deal with the NRL powerhouse earlier in the year and was keen to pledge his future to Craig Bellamy’s side as he prepares to feature for the Kiwis in the Pacific Championships to round out the year.
Melbourne Storm star Nelson Asofa-Solomona opens up on boxing future
Melbourne endured an inconsistent campaign in 2023 as injuries and poor form meant they were unable to string any meaningful run of victories together right when it mattered most.
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Asofa-Solomona split his time between churning through the yardage in the middle in his customary no-nonsense style and being a menace while posted out on the edge as a backrower.
After the Storm were bundled out of premiership contention by Penrith having lost two of their three finals games, the forward made the trip up to Townsville to take on Wallace in the Battle on the Reef card.
"I did a little bit of boxing when I was 12 after my dad got me into the local club," Asofa-Solomona told SEN.
"It didn’t go too well there. I sparred the coach’s son and touched him up, then came back the next day and the coach wasn’t too happy with me.
"He sort of gave me some weird vibes, so it was a short career there in the boxing scene but then I got back into it slowly.
"A fight popped up and I thought it was a good idea. I put the time into the craft and decided to jump into the ring. It all worked out really nicely from there."
A potential issue has arisen following his third-round TKO of Wallace though with the desire to fight professionally now pitted against his commitment to playing rugby league.
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However, NAS declared he wouldn’t tread down the same path as Tevita Pangai Junior who walked away from a lucrative contract at Canterbury in order to purse a boxing career.
"First and foremost, I’m a Storm player," the 27-year-old said.
"It’s really up to them on whether they give me the nod to fight whenever I want. They have to give the tick of approval.
"I’m there for the next four years and I’m committed to the Storm…whatever happens after that with whether I retire or whether I continue to play, it’s up to the man upstairs."
Michael Maguire’s New Zealand tenure under spotlight
Asofa-Solomona is currently entrenched in Kiwi camp with the New Zealanders opening their campaign against Samoa at Eden Park.
The home side have had an interrupted time of it since assembling with Michael Maguire courting plenty of headlines due to his reported acceptance of the vacant New South Wales job.
Although the forward insisted the head coach was fully committed to the Kiwis and had already assured the playing group that all his focus was on the end-of-season tournament.
"He addressed the group early on in the week after there’s been stuff in the media that’s come out," Asofa-Solomona said.
"He brought it up to the leadership group and they thought it was a good idea that he brought it up and cleared the air a bit.
"He did that and he 100 per cent has got his focus towards the black jersey. But whatever he chooses to do, we fully support him."
