When Melbourne Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona leaves his Essendon home for the last time, he will leave behind a piece of family history.
The NRL star has put his Essendon home up for auction, expecting to fetch $1.5-1.6 million for the family home he has lived in for the past six years.
While prospective buyers will focus on the four bedrooms, contemporary kitchen and bathroom, and entertainment areas, Asofa-Solomona will regret the simple shed in the back yard the most.
That is because his late father, Vala, built the shed by hand while also caring to the gardens in the backyard.
‘I believe dad appreciated the house and took great delight in it,’ Asofa-Solomona added.
Vala died in January 2023, but not before assuring his New Zealand-born son that he was proud of him.
He even allowed the proud Kiwi to play for the Wallabies, despite Rugby Australia’s attempts to persuade the NRL star to defect.
‘I’m extremely grateful that Eddie (Jones) and Hamish (McLennan) looked at me, and I genuinely considered rugby,’ Asofa-Solomona said at the time.
‘I felt like I’d contributed a lot to rugby league, and I believed this was a fantastic opportunity to go to rugby.
‘Of course, I’m a very proud Kiwi, but at the end of the day, my parents have the last word on anything I do in my profession.
‘Before my father died, he said, ‘I just want you to be happy, and I don’t mind if you play for the Wallabies.
‘At the end of the day, I love the Storm too much; it is my home.’
