The thought that giant prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona is still on the improve is enough to send shivers down the spine of most opposition clubs but that’s exactly what the Melbourne Storm big man is expecting.
Asofa-Solomona has been one of the Storm's most consistent performers in 2019, with the big Kiwi putting together his best season yet since debuting for Melbourne some four years ago.
The 23-year-old is averaging a career-best 114.9 running metres a game this season and leads the Storm in offloads (25) despite the fact he hasn't played more than 50 minutes in any match this campaign.
Asofa-Solomona said it took him some time to settle in Melbourne and only now is he maturing as a player, with his best years still ahead.
"My game has definitely improved a lot over the last few years," Asofa-Solomona said.
"I am playing more minutes and I feel I have more of a leadership role.
"It is a lot to do with maturity. When you are young you don't really put up your hand.
Match: Rabbitohs v Storm
Round 21 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
4th Position
away Team
Storm
1st Position
Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
"But with experience, you put up your hand more as you know it is important to the team."
While Asofa-Solomona is one of his teammates' favourite players on the field, he knows it's a far different story off it.
The 200cm giant revealed he has had issues in the past finding a teammate happy to room with him during away games due to a snoring issue and has only recently found a willing partner in Fijian winger Suliasi Vunivalu.
Rabbitohs v Storm - Round 21
"He (Vunivalu) is a funny character and we have got a real boyfriend-girlfriend relationship," Asofa-Solomona said, before quickly pointing out that he was the boyfriend in the relationship.
"He is a pretty funny fellow. He is really different, and it takes a while to get him to open up, but when he does he is pretty funny."
Asofa-Solomona said it had been a challenge for him to find roommates in the past, with former Storm big man Dayne Weston and current vice-captain Jesse Bromwich among those to share indifferent experiences with the New Zealander over the years.
"There was one time when I was sleeping and I woke up and I looked over and Jesse (Bromwich) wasn't there," Asofa-Solomona said.
"I went to go get breakfast and I hurt my leg on something and looked down and he was lying in the hallway.
"There was another incident with Jesse in Newcastle when I went to go to the toilet and he was lying in the bath as he had taken the mattress to the bathroom.
"But Suli can handle it... (it's) true love."
