Slater on track for big game
IT is business as usual for Melbourne’s Billy Slater, with the star fullback training with the Storm before his NRL grand final hopes go on the line in tonight’s judiciary hearing.
Slater was greeted by cheers from the Storm faithful as he took to the field for their first training session since Friday night’s preliminary final win over Cronulla.
The 35-year-old will find out tonight if that match was his last before retirement or he will get a final farewell in Sunday’s grand final against Sydney Roosters.
Facing a shoulder charge ban, the NRL will be represented by Anthony Lo Surdo, who successfully prosecuted Canberra’s Sia Soliola last year for his high shot on Slater, which resulted in a five-week suspension.
Storm teammate Ryan Hoffman said he had no clue which way the three-person judiciary panel would rule but hoped the fullback would have the send-off he deserved.
“You can talk about what people deserve and what’s fair and all that sort of stuff but, unfortunately, we don’t live in a fair game,” Hoffman said yesterday.
“Obviously people don’t deserve to go out like that but you just don’t know what’s going to happen at the judiciary, so your guess is as good as mine.”
The man who will replace Slater if he is banned, Jahrome Hughes, was given a vote of confidence by Hoffman.
“It will be a big loss because Bill’s been the best fullback the game’s ever seen, but we’ve got all the confidence in the world in a young kid who has played halfback, but we think is a better fullback than what he is halfback,” Hoffman said.
Hughes said he would get the job done if required.
“Obviously I want to see him play but I think I’ll be all right,” he said. “When he missed a few games earlier this year I jumped in there.
“If I do get the chance to play, the boys, like Cameron Smith, Cameron Munster, will be there to help me out.”
Storm second-rower Joe Stimson said 23-year-old had the right temperament.
“He’s a relaxed bloke and he fit straight in,” Stimson said.