Slater gets part-time coach role at Storm

RUGBY LEAGUE: Billy Slater will move straight into a parttime coaching role at the Storm when pre-season training begins next month.

Having retired at the end of the just finished season, the 35year-old will help new assistant coach Marc Brentnall co-ordinate the team’s attack as well as mentor the Melbourne club’s emerging fullbacks and wingers.

New Zealand debutant Jahrome Hughes looks set to step into Slater’s boots next season, but Storm football director Frank Ponissi expects Scott Drinkwater and Ryan Papenhuyzen to put in bids for the coveted No. 1 jersey.

“You’d say Hughes would be the favourite, but the fact that he’s missing for a fair chunk of the pre-season (due to Kiwis commitments) gives Scott Drinkwater and Ryan Papenhuizen a bit of an opening,” Ponissi said.

“Especially Drinkwater after a really good season. But at the same time, if Hughes locks in the No. 1 spot for New Zealand then again that gives him a bit of kudos as well. It’s open.”

The Storm rotated halfbacks last season, trying to settle on Cooper Cronk’s replacement. Coach Craig Bellamy could be faced with an equally daunting task choosing his fullback.

Drinkwater will get every chance after an “outstanding” season in reserve grade.

The speedster, who boasts electric skills and try-scoring abilities, starred on debut in Slater’s absence in the last home-and-away game.

“He won that Cooper Cronk Medal (the Storm’s award for feeder club player of the year) in a canter,” Ponissi said.

“He was the best and most consistent player that we sent back to either the (Sunshine Coast) Falcons or the (Easts) Tigers. He was unlucky not to win Q-Cup player of the year.”

The club announced four resignings yesterday – Drinkwater (to 2020), Justin Olam (2020), Kayleb Milne (2020) and Hughes (2021) – after Nelson Asofa-Solomona signed a four-year extension on Thursday.