A real gentleman’: Raiders team-mates stand up for banned Sia …
That headline refers to Sia Soliola, the Canberra Raiders forward who received a five‑week NRL suspension in July 2017 for a high tackle that knocked out Melbourne Storm’s Billy Slater. Despite the ban, his teammates spoke highly of him.
The Guardian reported that Junior Paulo called Soliola “a real gentleman,” adding: “It doesn’t change who he is as a person off the field,” and highlighting that Soliola “lifts everyone’s spirits when he steps into a room.”
ABC News echoed that sentiment, quoting Paulo again: “Sia will cop it on the chin. I’m sure everyone learns their lesson on the field,” and reaffirming that the punishment wouldn’t change Soliola’s character.
In summary, while the tackle cost him match time, Soliola earned respect from his teammates—who described him as humble, well-liked, and someone who would learn from the incident rather than let it define him.
Would you like more context on the incident, reactions from the league, or how the Raiders performed in his absence?
