Brains trust: How Billy Slater played crucial role in securing not guilty verdict

IT’S the private jet brains trust that saved Billy Slater’s grand final fairytale. But Melbourne Storm CEO Dave Donaghy reserved special praise for the fullback’s part in the not guilty verdict.

Billy Slater played a crucial part in securing the not guilty verdict. Picture: AAP

IT’S the brains trust that saved Billy Slater’s grand final fairytale.

But Melbourne Storm CEO Dave Donaghy reserved special praise for the fullback’s part in the not guilty verdict.

With Slater, Donaghy, coach Craig Bellamy, crack lawyer Nick Ghabar and director of football Frank Ponissi cramming for the final exam on a private jet just hours out from the near three-hour judiciary hearing, CEO Donaghy revealed after the verdict just how influential the fullback was in the #freebilly case.

“As meticulous in his preparation for tonight as he is for games. Was key to the outcome. Lots of people played key roles in #freebilly - thank you, heading back home now @storm @nrl then eyes on the prize this Sunday #melbourneproud #purplepride” Donaghy tweeted after the decision.

As meticulous in his preparation for tonight as he is for games. Was key to the outcome. Lots of people played key roles in #freebilly - thank you, heading back home now @storm @nrl then eyes on the prize this Sunday #melbourneproud #purplepride pic.twitter.com/eTkpzmNM6b

— Dave Donaghy (@DaveDonaghy11) September 25, 2018

The magnitude of the shoulder charge saga was highlighted when one major Melbourne Storm sponsor offered to fly Slater and his team to Sydney and back on their personal jet in a bid to minimise the disruption. It’s unclear whether the private jet in the picture is the sponsor’s.

Slater’s class and meticulous preparation was on show when both Ghabar and NRL counsel Anthony Lo Surdo cross examined the star fullback.

“It was my intention to make a ball and all tackle and get my body between the ball and the tryline,” Slater said in evidence.

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“I was intending to get my body in front of Feki and wrap my arms. I practice this type of stuff at training.

“I was going at top speed and he changed, he stepped of his left foot and came square on to me and put me in a vulnerable position. Feki raised his left elbow to my head level. I turned my head and when you turn you head, naturally, your body does too.

“I’ve got a nanosecond to make a decision.

“The collision was two metres before I anticipated. He initiated the contact, there was a definite change in his mindset which created an awkward body position for me.

Billy Slater played a crucial part in securing the not guilty verdict. Picture: AAP

“My head turned and my body followed. I felt contact to me left pec and jaw. I affected the tackle in the safest manner. It started when he comes off his left foot.

“My right arm was wrapping around his left arm, my left arm is wrapping underneath. I turned my head to avoid contact with his elbow.

“I have a duty to get across there for my team. I was put in an awkward body position by him veering back across. I didn’t raise me level.”

Lo Surdo argued Slater still committed an offence.

“What you intended to do and what you in fact did, were two very different things,” Lo Surdo asked Slater.

Slater answered: “Well, yeah.”

Lo Surdo added: “Shoulder charges are illegal and no longer accepted in the game.”

Slater insisted he watched and studied the attacking styles of all opposition players, especially wingers.

The tackle that ignited the saga. Picture: FOXSPORTS

That, he said, allowed him to know exactly what each player would do with the ball.

“What foot they step off, what hand they carry the ball in,” Slater said. “That gives me an understanding, knowledge and advantage of what they do. I try to understand patterns in attack.”

Slater and the Storm are now hot favourites to beat the Roosters and become the first team since the 1992/93 Brisbane Broncos team to win back-to-back premierships.

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Originally published as Brains trust: How Billy Slater played crucial role in securing not guilty verdict