LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In a shock twist, Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been sidelined for the 2024 NRL Grand Final, leaving Craig Bellamy with a tough decision to make ahead of the big game.
The NRL Judiciary has handed down a five-match suspension to the player, forcing Bellamy to look to the bench for a replacement in the crucial clash.
Rookie forwards Joe Chan and Lazarus Vaalepu are the contenders for the spot left vacant by Asofa-Solomona.
With less than 12 hours to go before the team announcement, Vaalepu seems to be edging ahead in the race for selection.
If chosen, he could be coming off the interchange bench, potentially bumping either Christian Welch or Tui Kamikamica into a starting role in the front-row.
Despite initially joining the Storm on a short trial contract from the Penrith Panthers, Vaalepu has proven his worth and earned a contract extension until the end of next season.
Making his debut in Round 20 against the Sydney Roosters, the 25-year-old has made an impact with one try, five tackle busts, 109.3 post-contact metres, 82 tackles, and 270 total running metres in just under 2 hours of play.
As Bellamy weighs his options, the stage is set for an exciting showdown in the Grand Final as the Storm look to fill the gap left by Asofa-Solomona's absence with a rising star from their ranks.