'Knew it was gonna be on': Trent Robinson reacts to ugly Linday Collins moment in prelim final loss
Updated . First published at
Lindsay Collins was ruled out of the prelim final 18 seconds into Friday night's clash after an ugly tackle from Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Charging for the first hit-up of the match, Collins met with a firing Asofa-Solomona, who collected the Roosters prop high in a brutal collision.
The 28-year-old forward returned to his feet and played the ball backwards, prompting an immediate reaction from referee Grant Atkins.
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"He wasn't well at all," Cameron Smith said of Collins on Nine.
"Referee Grant Atkins has called Nelson out straight away."
Lindsay Collins is collected high by Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Nine
Asofa-Solomona was sin binned for the tackle, while Collins was ruled to be showing category one concussion symptoms and was ruled out for the match.
After some early issues, Melbourne bounced back to produce a resounding 48-18 win over the Tricolours, booking a spot in next weekend's grand final.
Trent Robinson was quizzed about the impact of Collins' absence on his side, who got to within six points of the Storm at once stage in the second half.
"He's OK from what I saw there," the Roosters coach said.
Trent Robinson speaks to the media after the prelim final defeat. Nine
"Obviously the fuse got lit from early in the week with Rads' comments and how the game started last week. We knew it was gonna be on, which is fine - but obviously it's tough when you see an important player that we rely on not be able to play.
"First up and he's gone from the game … that's difficult, but that's footy. We were able to enact our 18th man but he's a different position.
"He's a very good player [Collins] and he wasn't able to take any part in the game [after the incident], so obviously that had an impact."
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As for what type of punishment Asofa-Solomona should receive from the match review committee, Robinson wasn't in the mood to cast judgement.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona could miss the grand final. Getty
"I'll probably let that go, I won't go into all of that," he said.
"It's done and it's not my time now. Someone else will make those judgements."
Melbourne's towering front-rower has a checkered past with the judiciary and anything higher than a grade one careless high tackle charge would rule him out of the decider.
The winner of Saturday night's other prelim between Penrith and Cronulla will meet the minor premiers in the grand final on October 6.
