BILLY Slater in no rush to return from shoulder CAN WAIT injury

SNAKES PRAISE FEARNE

RUGBY LEAGUE INNISFAIL’S Billy Slater is confident a shoulder “niggle” will not keep him sidelined for much longer after Melbourne Storm yesterday ruled out the champion fullback for Saturday night’s season-opener at Perth Stadium.

Slater pulled up sore after participating in full contact training last Friday.

PAGE 38

He met club medical staff yesterday at AAMI Park where it was decided to take an ultraconservative approach, largely due to the length of the season ahead.

Slater (above) jarred his troublesome left shoulder in the World Club Challenge win on February 16. Residual soreness forced the playmaker, who missed 18 months of football after back-to-back shoulder reconstructions, to miss the Cameron Smith-Johnathan Thurston testimonial game in Brisbane the following week.

Slater remained in good spirits yesterday, despite the latest hiccup.

“It’s going said yesterday.

“I got back into a bit of contact last Friday, it was pretty much an open contact session which was good, I got through all right,” Slater that, (but) still got a little bit of a niggle in it.”

Slater was in line to become the 30th player in NRL history to reach the 300-game milestone.

But his absence on Saturday night opens the door for utility back Ryley Jacks to step in at five-eighth, with Cameron Munster set to start at fullback against the Canterbury Bulldogs. CONTINUED PAGE 38