Storm in no rush on Slater

MELBOURNE are so well prepared for life after Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk they are happy to give Slater space to make his decision on whether to play next season.

Storm CEO David Donaghy said the club is comfortable with Slater taking further time to decide if his body is able to withstand another season even though his slice of the salary cap pie next year would be significant.

Donaghy and Slater’s agent are set to have more talks about a one-year extension this week.

Jahrome Hughes has caught the eye as a fullback, particularly in Melbourne’s win over Manly last month.

“We are pretty comfortable with where everything is at,” Donaghy said.

“We have spoken to Billy and his agent a few times. First, if Billy wants to play we’d love to have him. If he doesn’t, we will go to Plan B and have enough time.”

Cronk will leave Melbourne at the end of the season and with each passing week there is less prospect another NRL club will be able to pay him what he is worth.

Brodie Croft, a 20-year-old Queenslander, played with distinction at halfback when Cronk was absent during the Origin series, kicking a field goal in Cronk style to win a game against North Queensland.

The determination of the exact salary cap figure for next year plays in the background for many off-contract players.

The clubs were told by the NRL in April to plan to comply with a $9.2 million salary cap, but clubs, notably Canterbury, are agitating for $400,000 to be added to the cap limit when they are briefed by the NRL on collection bargaining agreement progress tomorrow.