Slater too ‘stubborn’ to change plan to quit
MELBOURNE coach Craig Bellamy has no doubt Billy Slater could play on next season but the champion fullback is “that bloody stubborn” that his decision to call time on his career will be the right one.
Slater made a career-high 289 run metres in the Storm’s 10-8 win against the Titans to help his side mount a fightback against the Gold Coast in his final game in Queensland.
Slater has, at most, five games left in his career. But on Saturday night he looked as though he could play on for years, with Bellamy revealing his fullback has “still got plenty in him”.
“But as I said to him, this has got to be the right decision for you and your family and it’s the decision he came up with,” Bellamy said.
“I still think no doubt he could play again but having said that, his decision’s got to be the right one for him.
“And the one thing about Billy Slater is, when he does make a decision – and I think throughout his career he probably has made some not-right decisions – but he’s that bloody stubborn he makes it the right decision.”
Slater played his final game in Queensland in front of 14,266 fans on the Coast, with many there just to pay their respects to the Storm great.
The stadium is already sold out for Johnathan Thurston’s final NRL match on Saturday. But Garth Brennan expects the best from his Titans players.
“(Thurston’s) been fantastic for the game, he just doesn’t need two points, he had his two points (on Friday night).”