HE’S A SQUEAKY CLEAN SLATER
BILLY BEATS CHARGE AND CAN LINE UP FOR FAIRYTALE FINALE
THE legend will play on.
A three-member judiciary panel last night found retiring Melbourne fullback Billy Slater not guilty following a three-hour hearing.
He can now play one final match in Sunday’s NRL grand final against the Roosters.
Slater was charged with a grade one shoulder charge on Cronulla’s Sosaia Feki (pictured inset) in last Friday night’s preliminary final in Melbourne. He pleaded not guilty.
The verdict will be a huge boost for the Storm, who are looking to become the first team to win back-to-back titles in a united competition since Brisbane in 1992-1993.
“I’d just like to thank the judiciary members for a fair hearing,’’ Slater said.
“It was important for me tonight to get my point across and what my intentions were in this incident.
“Now it’s important for me to focus on the game. I haven’t started my preparation for the game as yet. That starts as of now. Now it’s time to play in the grand final.”
Judiciary panel members Bob Lindner, Mal Cochrane and Sean Garlick took an agonising 54 minutes to reach their verdict amid much conjecture from the 75-strong media contingent covering the hearing.
It was the longest deliberation of the past decade but did indicate there was some doubt among the panel.
During evidence, Slater claimed Feki changed direction on his run for the corner, ensuring the collision occurred around two metres earlier than expected.
Slater said Feki suddenly changed “his mindset” from wanting to score in the corner to shifting in-field and ran directly at the Storm fullback with his left elbow cocked. Storm coach Craig Bellamy attended the hearing to support Slater, as did club CEO Dave Donaghy and director of football Frank Ponissi. They arrived and left by private jet.
Slater gave evidence to his legal representative, Nick Ghabar, and then under cross examination from NRL counsel, Anthony Lo Surdo.
The panel watched eight different angles of the hit, Ghabar also submitting still frames as evidence.
“It was my intention to make a ball-and-all tackle,” Slater said.