NRL star Andrew Fifita has leapt to the defence of an embattled Nelson Asofa-Solomona, saying if it was his brother in a fight he would be going "all out".
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Asofa-Solomona is waiting on the outcome of the NRL integrity unit's investigation into his role in an alleged street brawl in Bali on Sunday.
It has since been reported that the Melbourne prop was retaliating to Storm teammate Suliasi Vunivalu allegedly being king hit prior to the incident.
"I've been in those situations too. But for me, loyalty is a big thing. And I would never leave my mate alone," Fifita said on Tuesday.
The NRL are hoping to finalise the investigation by the end of the week, just in time for the start of the inaugural World Cup nines tournament in Sydney.
It is likely the integrity unit will interview Vunivalu, as well as other Storm players also present on the night in question, over the next few days.
A photo of Vunivalu published by News Corp on Tuesday showed numerous cuts to his face.
Vunivalu has been named to play for Fiji at the nines, while Asofa-Solomona was included in a 22-man New Zealand squad for three upcoming Tests.
The Kiwis face Australia in Wollongong next Friday, before taking on Great Britain twice during the Lions tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
The Bali saga prompted Fifita to stand up for Asofa-Solomona's actions while in camp with a Tongan invitational team preparing for the nines event.
"If it was my brother getting king-hit, or threatened to get glassed, mate I'm not going to stand there and just look at him," the Cronulla front-rower said.
"Come on, it's common sense.
"If it was one of my Sharks teammates ... and one of them got king hit, what am I meant to do? Stand there and go, 'No stop it. Please, stop it', while he's going to get bashed on the ground?
"I don't know the full extent of the story, but if that's one of my brothers on the ground, I'm going all out."
North Queensland star Jason Taumalolo also weighed in on the matter, saying it was inevitable for someone to react once provoked.
"I don't know what happened, (but) all I can say is you have to defend yourself somehow," Taumalolo said.
"If you're going to have a go at someone, you're going to get some sort of reaction."
Australian Associated Press
