Billy’s intriguing code jump

EVERY SATURDAY The Chronicle team talks about the big issues in sport locally, nationally and internationally.

It’s been a bit of slow sports news week but there has been one big issue of note that has Glen, Jason and Sean scratching their heads.

Lucky for you the sport team doesn’t care about that UFC debacle; their focus instead is on Billy Slater’s cross code jump to the St Kilda Saints and Australian Rules Football.

Jason Gibbs: I’m a Billy Slater, Melbourne Storm and St Kilda fan so this move ticks all the boxes and excites me just a little.

The move however has left me a little bit puzzled for a number of reasons.

First of all, I think the NRL has really missed the boat here.

I could almost accept if Melbourne and Craig Bellamy were unable to find a place for Slater beyond a token ambassador role.

With Slater retired all that’s left of Melbourne’s golden generation is Bellamy and Cameron Smith.

Melbourne’s success in 2019 and beyond will be determined by club officials and players who can commit 100 per cent to the club.

That is why I could accept Slater not being on board – after all he has earned a little relaxation time.

What I don’t understand is how or why the NRL didn’t move to secure something for Slater – he is after all one of the game’s greats.

I’m also a little confused by St Kilda’s decision to sign Slater, even if it is to a part-time role.

Slater knows all about success, team culture and leadership but surely there are just as many AFL greats out there who could do the job.

Having said that, St Kilda management did promise to think outside the box earlier this year and if it makes us more competitive you won’t hear me complaining.

Sean Teuma: The first thing that came into my mind when I heard this news was why.

Not even a fortnight after his last game of a 319-game NRL career, not to mention along with 61 appearances for Queensland and Australia, he’s jumped ship to the AFL.

With the success he’s had in the game, it is puzzling that there wasn’t some sort of gig for him in league after retirement, especially considering how prominent he has been in the media.

You’d have to think it is a good coup for the St Kilda club with the way they’ve been travelling in recent times and as sport moves further and further away from traditional approaches, it might be something we see more of in the future.

It surely can’t make the Saints any worse in 2019, and if it somehow does, fans can always blame that guy from the different code.

Glen McCullough: When it comes to weird happenings, this is right up there.

Slater no doubt will make a good fist of his new role — whatever it is. He oozes class.

But I’m thinking St Kilda haven’t got him on board just to do a job any number of former AFL players would make an equally good fist of.

It’s probably more about publicity, and if that was the club’s plan, it has worked brilliantly.

There is a little bit of romanticism and a lot of fascination about any sport person jumping codes and what better way for an Aussie Rules organisation to get itself out there than to haul a leaguey on board.

Well done St Kilda. You’ve snared a great catch and I’m certain Billy will be a brilliant pick-up for the enigmatic Saints.

And good on you, Billy, for daring to leave your comfort zone in an adventurous leftfield play. You’ll do a fine job and I’m sure that pay cheque won’t be half bad.

But while the AFL, St Kilda and Slater snuggle up all warm and cosy next winter, where the hell have the NRL and to a lesser extent the Melbourne Storm been while all of this has gone down?

Asleep at the wheel it seems. Not just since last month’s grand-final day but from the moment they knew Slater would become a free agent from October 1.

When it comes to image and broad community appeal Slater was their equal number-one asset alongside JT.

Surely a job of some description could have been found for him. Blokes like Slater don’t walk past your door every day.