Storm chiefs confident champ will play on
Melbourne Storm bosses believe Billy Slater will ink a 12-month extension in the next fortnight.
Slater is expected to reclaim his Australian jumper today for the World Cup, emphatically icing his superb display to clinch the Clive Churchill Medal in Melbourne’s grand final victory on Sunday night.
The 34-year-old yesterday again refused to confirm he would play on next season.
“I’ve always said it’s a physical thing for me and physically I’m feeling okay,” Slater said.
“I’m more than likely gonna play on next year but until I can definitively give you an answer, it’s hard for me to say for certain one way or another.
“It’s not fair on anyone if I come out and saying one thing and then do a backflip a week later.”
But Storm football operations chief Frank Ponissi was adamant Slater would not retire.
“Billy will play on,” Ponissi said. “I don’t believe he will walk away. I’m confident of that.” The Storm has tabled a one-year deal for Slater, who says he will make a final call in the next two weeks, prior to the Kangaroos entering camp for their six-week World Cup campaign.
Significantly, Slater played his 299th top-grade match in the NRL decider against the Cowboys and has a dream to join Smith and Cronk in Melbourne’s 300-game club.
One pillar of the Storm’s Big Three has crumbled, with Cronk having played his final game for the club in the 34-6 premiership win, but the champion halfback implored Slater to push on.
Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy has been in negotiations with Slater’s management for the past three months. He said the code’s greatest fullback had given him no formal indication he intends to retire.
“We want him to go on,” he said.
“Billy has earned another contract based on the season he’s had I would have thought.”