Slater still behind his old Storm comrades

BILLY Slater may be gone but the Melbourne Storm great is still plotting Brisbane’s downfall in tonight’s NRL seasonopener.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy yesterday revealed the crucial impact Slater has had on Melbourne’s 2019 preparations.

The Storm will host the Broncos at AAMI Park tonight to kick off the 2019 NRL season and have not lost a Round 1 game since Bellamy took over in 2003.

A lot of that success has had to do with Slater, who retired at the end of last season following a 319-game NRL career that saw him become arguably rugby league’s greatest ever fullback.

The Queensland Origin legend scored 190 tries for Melbourne to sit second to Ken Irvine (212) on the greatest tryscorers’ list.

While Slater has made a code-switch to help coach AFL club St Kilda, he has not been lost to the Storm.

The 35-year-old has made weekly appearances at Melbourne training to mentor young fullbacks Scott Drinkwater, Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen.

Hughes, a former Townsville Blackhawks custodian, will get first crack at replacing Slater in the No.1 jersey after Drinkwater tore a pectoral muscle during the trials.

And Bellamy said the Storm were well placed thanks to Slater’s dedication in helping the transition.

“There is a fair bit gone into it, well a lot, a whole heap,” Bellamy said of replacing Slater. “Billy has been a part of that as well. He has come in once a week and worked with mainly our fullbacks. He has done a terrific job.

“It is hard, we all knew it was going to be hard. He dominated that position for 16 years.

“Drinky, Jahrome and Paps are all different in what they bring to a team and what their strengths are. It’s been a real advantage for us to have Billy being a part of it as well.”