Storms gathering in support of our Billy
Billy Slater’s fans rally in Cairns as he faces the music tonight over shoulder charge
A FAR Northern rugby league club which shares its name with the Melbourne Storm is throwing its support behind Innisfail legend Billy Slater. Edmonton Storm junior players Slayter McGrath (left), Jaxon Rayson and under-16s (at rear) Jymaal Mellor-King, Luke Erbucher, Bryce Moll and Byran Vanderkamp are adding their voices to the Far North’s warcry ahead of Slater’s appearance at the NRL judiciary tonight charged for a dangerous tackle. Slater could miss this weekend’s grand final and a fairytale end to his stellar career.
SOME of Billy Slater’s biggest fans in Cairns are rallying to his cause as tonight he faces a judiciary hearing over a dangerous tackle charge.
The Billy-loving McGrath family of Little Mulgrave, who are members of Edmonton Storm, are galvanising behind their Innisfail legend.
The diehard Storm fans – Brock, 13, Addisyn, 10, Slayter, 7, and Braxtyn, 4 were glued to the game on Friday when the infamous moment played out.
Slater was cited for shoulder charging Sharks’ winger Sosaia Feki and will tonight face a judiciary that could scotch hopes he will play in the Grand Final.
“They were watching – it was a bit of excitement,” dad Michael said.
“I think he should be treated like any other player, but my wife has been building a case for him.
“She said she should be on the judiciary.
“She has photos that show the separation between the arms and body and another photo that shows the arm hooking around.”
It comes as Cairns and District Rugby League heavyweights are on tenterhooks.
CDRL operations manager Pat Bailey judged the movement as more of a shove.
“Myself, having a look at it, I don’t believe it was a shoulder charge in the way it looked and the way we look at shoulder charges,” Baily said.
“We had to look at these for the Cairns league – this looked like a push.”
She said if he was guilty the legendary fullback would take his medicine.
“One thing he is not is a cheat,” Bailey said. “He knows that if he is guilty he’ll take the punishment.”
Brothers Cairns A Grade assistant coach Chey Bird said: “By the letter of the law it was a shoulder charge.
“I certainly don’t want him to miss a game, he’s one of the best players on the paddock.”
There are basic differences between a shoulder charge and a poor tackle, Bird said. “There are a couple of key indicators. The number one is there was no intention to wrap his arms,” he said. “The other key indicator is whether the arm was tucked into the body.”
Bird likened Slater’s bump to the AFL sliding rule.
“It has been outlawed for a couple of seasons – in AFL sliding was second nature for decades – at times players get their blood up,” he said.
“You can’t blame him given the try scoring opportunity; I’m glad I’m not on the tribunal.”
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