Mate and Rooster hold keys to Billy’s freedom
A PREMIERSHIP-winning teammate of Billy Slater and an ex-Roosters skipper could hold the fate of Slater’s grand final dreams in their hands.
Dallas Johnson and Sean Garlick are among the five judiciary panel members who have been used by the NRL this season and could again be part of the panel tomorrow night. Under NRL rules there is nothing to preclude the likes of Johnson and Garlick from sitting in judgment on the Slater hearing.
Johnson, Garlick, Queensland legend Bob Lindner as well as Tony Puletua and Mal Cochrane are the five panel members who have been used by the NRL this year. Johnson spent seven years playing alongside Slater at the Storm,
winning two grand finals. Garlick played 64 games for the Roosters including a stint as captain. The former hooker was on the panel which saw Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell banned for last week’s preliminary final.
The NRL refused to confirm which three panel members will sit in on the most anticipated judiciary hearing this season. A guilty verdict would rub Slater out of his final match before retirement.
It is understood Slater will be called upon to testify at the hearing. He has played a large role in mounting his defence.
The Storm will argue Slater’s tackle on Cronulla winger Sosaia Feki was not a shoulder charge but rather a collision as he attempted to make a tackle.
The Storm considered drafting in Feki as a witness but concerns regarding the optics surrounding Feki’s unrelated shoulder injury was a concern to Storm officials.