Storm strengthening its case for Slater’s hearing
MELBOURNE: Billy Slater will have to wait until tomorrow night to know if he can face the Sydney Roosters in his farewell NRL grand final after his judiciary hearing could not be brought forward.
Melbourne had asked the NRL on Saturday to bring the hearing forward to tonight, one day earlier than usual, in a bid to help preparations for the week.
However, the NRL told AAP it was unable to do so for logistical reasons, due to the availability of representatives.
The Storm spent yesterday strengthening its case to allow Slater a shot at a fairytale end to his 16year NRL career, having already hired gun defence counsel Nick Ghabar to represent him.
Ghabar helped free Justin Hodges to play in the 2015 grand final and is known for his work in helping players avoid shoulder charge bans, having successfully defended both Sam Burgess and Jack Wighton in the past two years.
Slater’s gradeone charge for his hit on Cronulla’s Sosaia Feki to save a try and force him into touch on Friday night has divided the NRL.
New South Wales State of Origin coach Brad Fittler declared yesterday the judiciary had no choice but to find him guilty, or risk setting a dangerous precedent.
But NRL competition committee member Darren Lockyer and former judiciary panel chairman Paul Conlon have both come out in the champion Melbourne fullback’s defence.
Slater’s Melbourne teammates also remain hopeful they will be able to send the 35yearold out with a NRL grand final victory.
Storm winger Josh AddoCarr said it would be a ‘‘massive blow’’ to lose Slater for the title decider and defended his teammate’s actions.
‘‘What’s he meant to do? He’s just gone in for a tackle,’’ he said.
‘‘I don’t reckon it’s a shoulder charge or anything; he just went in for the tackle and did his best to stop the try.’’
Melbourne fiveeighth Cam eron Munster said Slater should not be given special treatment because of his status as one of the game’s greats, but did not believe the hit deserved anything more than a penalty.
‘‘There was no malice — it’s just Bill being a competitor and wanting to do the best for his team and stop the try and that was a tackle he needed to make,’’ Munster said.
‘‘It would be really disappointing if he doesn’t get to play in his last game but there’s rules with that kind of stuff and noone is bigger than the game.
‘‘I would love to see Bill go out a winner because he’s a champion bloke and a champion player.’’ — AAP