Sydney Roosters teen Aliyah Nasio will miss the start of the NRLW season after copping a four match ban for punching Brisbane star Julia Robinson in an ugly end to the women’s grand final.
It’s the equal longest ban handed to an NRLW player yet, alongside the four-match ban handed to Eels forward Kennedy Cherrington for a spear tackle in 2023.
On Tuesday night the 19-year-old pleaded guilty to striking but failed to downgrade the charge from a grade three despite arguing she was retaliating in fear while surrounded by seven Broncos players as the fulltime siren sounded in the NRLW grand final.
One included Robinson, who had her nose broken and suffered a deviated septum which will require surgery in December, according to a report submitted by a Broncos doctor.
The Jillaroos star was punched twice in the face after a scuffle between Nasio and Broncos five eighth Gayle Broughton, who grabbed the Roosters forward and instigated the melee.
The chaotic scenes marred the end of the best NRLW grand final to date, which finished with Brisbane winning 22-18 over last year’s premiers.
Nasio declined to give evidence or speak on Tuesday night but submitted a letter of apology, as well as a letter from the Roosters’ senior wellbeing manager to be considered when deliberating the penalty.
Within the evidence, Nasio claimed she had suffered personally because of comment online and also in reflection of her actions.
Nasio, who is regarded as one of the game’s best young players, will miss at least one game for Tonga as well as the start of the NRLW season next year.
She was named in the Tongan squad for the Pacific Championships and will miss their first game against the Cook Islands in Papua New Guinea on October 25.