SLATER SO CLOSE TO GRAND FINAL

BILLY Slater (pictured) came achingly close to playing in Melbourne’s NRL grand final, with his surgeon almost giving him the green light.

The superstar fullback was hopeful of being cleared to play in the Storm’s charge through the finals with his troublesome shoulder feeling good.

But Storm football manager Frank Ponissi said the surgeon decided to err on the side of caution with the 33-year-old, who had a second reconstruction after Round 1 in March.

“The surgeon gave him a glowing report but stopped short of giving him the green light to play in September this year.

“It would have been an interesting selection dilemma for Craig (Bellamy).”

While Bellamy wants Slater to play on next year, it would have been tough to shift Cameron Munster out of the No. 1 jersey.

Munster is set to play five-eighth next season following the departure of Blake Green to Manly, but has proved himself one of the game’s best fullbacks in Slater’s absence.

He was one of the Storm’s best in their preliminary final win over Canberra, setting up their crucial second-half try.

Slater can take some credit for that. Munster, playing in his first grand final, said Slater had an eye for pinpointing the “little things in our game that make a big difference”.

“Whenever Bill’s got an opinion everyone listens and respects it.”

Despite competing for same position, Munster said he wished Slater was in the line-up.

“I’d be grateful to be playing alongside Billy in a grand final,” he said.