Slater here to stay, captain declares
NRL MAROONS skipper Cameron Smith has dismissed fears Billy Slater’s career is over, revealing the Storm sensation will definitely return to the NRL this season.
The Innisfail flyer is set to be ruled out of Melbourne’s opener against Canterbury on Friday, representing the latest setback in his return from a second shoulder operation.
Three weeks ago, Slater spoke of his personal demons, admitting there is no guaranwe’d tee he will play again as he takes a cautious approach to his rehabilitation.
The Storm are tight-lipped about Slater’s progress but Smith provided the most positive prognosis yet of a player he has known for 15 years.
“The good news is Billy Slater will play this year,” he said. “I don’t have an exact date, but it will be earlier rather than later — the good thing is that the fans will see Billy Slater back on the field again.
“The coaches, as far as I know, haven’t put any pressure on him to be fit for round one, love him to be there but if he feels he’s not right to go, it’s his decision.
“I’ve got my fingers crossed that Billy can get back to the way he can play and the way he wants to play.
“When Billy was at his peak doing his thing, there wasn’t a better sight in rugby league, he always gave you a sense something would happen.
“I hope he can stay healthy and play the whole season.”
Storm coach Craig Bellamy was more conservative in his assessment of the 33-year-old Slater, who has played just eight NRL games in two years.
“I’m pretty sure he won’t be playing the first couple of rounds,” Bellamy said.
“We’ve waited a long time and we’re not going to take any risks on him physically or mentally. Everything’s going along really well to be quite honest. I’m not quite sure whether to say we’re on track because we’ve never really had a track that was clear. It was all pretty blurry along the way.”
The tireless Smith faces another gruelling campaign, with the World Cup to end in early December.
But Greenberg pointed out there was no guarantee that spending more would deliver a premiership.
Last year’s premiers Cronulla ranked in the bottom four for off-field spending.
“There is no correlation between what you spend and your outcome at the end of the season,” he said. “The year the Cowboys won their premiership (two years ago) they were eighth in football department spend. The disparity has grown year on year.
“What this is about is ensuring clubs have sustainable futures so they invest their money in revenue-generating areas as well as football.”
The Broncos, armed with a record $42 million in revenue, are one of the NRL’s top resourced clubs. “In principle, (the cap) has widespread support because it protects clubs from themselves,” chief executive Paul White said.