Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been a middle forward monster for eight seasons with Melbourne Storm and as the Bromwich brothers are often overlooked as influential Storm figures, it is no surprise that Asofa-Solomona's excellence also creeps under the radar. In his eight seasons Asofa-Solomona has never lost more than 10 games, he's scored more than four tries in five consecutive seasons, plopped out 20+ offloads in seven consecutive seasons and he is in his fourth season averaging 100+ metres per game.

This season could be Asofa-Solomona's best campaign of his career as he already has the most tackle busts of his eight seasons (77) and is averaging a career-high 123m/game. Asofa-Solomona has 32 offloads and seems likely to chase down his previous best marker of 39 offloads in 2019. This is Asofa-Solomona's second season with 1,000+ Post Contact Metres and he also seems likely slide past his 2019 tally of 1,211 (currently on 1,108pcm this season).

Now a staple of the Aotearoa Kiwis forward pack, the best Aotearoa Kiwis forward pack ever, Asofa-Solomona and his Wellington homie Jahrome Hughes will lead the Kiwi-NRL Storm forward without Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, as well as Brandon Smith. This presents a celebration for Wellington rugby league as Joseph Tapine's also dominating, plus intriguing development wrinkles for Asofa-Solomona beyond this season.

Storm are chasing another championship this year though and after churning out his regular mahi through the middle for most of the year, Storm coach Craig Bellamy has tweaked Asofa-Solomona's role in their last two games. This is due to the absence of Felise Kaufusi on the right edge, leading Bellamy to start Asofa-Solomona in that right edge slot even though Asofa-Solomona is named to start at prop and Tui Kamikamica is named as an edge forward.

Kamikamica slides into the middle alongside Bromwich (Jesse) and Smith, Asofa-Solomona starts on an edge. In these two games, Asofa-Solomona has played 65 and 70 minutes. This is a jump up from the previous high this season of 56mins and playing out on an edge puts Asofa-Solomona in funky scenarios, usually running at smaller blokes. Asofa-Solomona is a unique athlete and this ensures that he does his job defensively, although he has been destructive in impressive wins and neither Panthers or Broncos managed to test Asofa-Solomona.

vs Panthers: 65mins, 18 runs - 130m @ 7.22m/run, 10 tackle busts, 3 offloads, 30 tackles @ 85.71%.

vs Broncos: 70mins, 1 try, 17 runs - 193m @ 11.35m/run, 1 try assist, 12 tackle busts, 2 offloads, 19 tackles @ 95%.

Asofa-Solomona battled against Viliame Kikau in a funky match up vs Panthers, before lining up against Kurt Capewell in the Broncos game ... and Ezra Mam. Asofa-Solomona is a monster through the middle against the biggest, toughest blokes and when isolating halves out on an edge there is obvious benefit.

Kaufusi will return ahead of finals footy as he raises his mana and Asofa-Solomona will likely shift back to the middle, reforming the trinity of Aotearoa middle forwards alongside Bromwich and Smith. Kenny Bromwich does a fabulous job on the left edge and Storm won't tinker with that, but I am curious if Bellamy dips into his baggy of tricks to find fresh ways of Asofa-Solomona deployment.

Without this edge forward funk, Asofa-Solomona will probably shine through the middle as he always has. The World Cup will add some juice to this equation later this year and an Aotearoa Kiwis team with three fantastic Wellingtonians is enticing. The prospect of Asofa-Solomona settling as a Storm leader beyond this season alongside Hughes looms as well and given what Asofa-Solomona has already achieved, his mana will be emphatic.

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