Queensland legends throw support behind Billy Slater

QUEENSLAND legends have thrown their support behind Melbourne fullback Billy Slater, whose fairytale farewell to rugby league is at threat after he was slapped with a grade one shoulder charge offence.

Melbourne's Billy Slater celebrates victory at full time after the Cronulla Sharks v Melbourne Storm NRL Preliminary Final at AAMI Park, Melbourne. Picture: Brett Costello

QUEENSLAND legends have leapt to the defence of Melbourne fullback Billy Slater, whose fairytale farewell to rugby league is at threat after he was slapped with a grade one shoulder charge offence.

The retiring Maroons great will have to front the judiciary this week if he wants to join his Storm teammates in Sunday’s NRL grand final, with not even an early guilty plea able to clear him of the tackle he put on Sosaia Feki on Friday night.

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The NRL’s match review committee released their charge sheet today and Slater is facing up to two weeks on the sideline for the offence.

However, several Queensland greats are calling for common sense at the judiciary.

The incident that could see Billy Slater miss the NRL Grand Final.

Australian coach Mal Meninga said on Fox League that Melbourne cannot win the grand final without Slater and there should be leniency given he was trying to stop a try.

“Hopefully common sense prevails,” Meninga said.

“He needs to play … you’ve got to stop the ball carrier.”

Mal Meninga says the NRL should show leniency in this case. Picture: AAP/Brendon Thorne

On Channel 9, former Queensland great Paul Vautin also defended Slater but said he expected backlash no matter what decision was made at the judiciary.

“It would be devastating,” Vautin said of the possibility Slater will miss the grand final.

“They (Melbourne) would have to get over it pretty quickly.

“(But) if he gets off, there will be hell to pay. Everyone will say, ‘you bludgers, if it was someone else they would have got six weeks’. That’s what critics will say.”

Fatty thinks there will be backlash no matter the decision.

Billy Slater has an unlikely supporter in Phil Gould.

And it is not just the Queenslanders coming out in support of Slater, but those from below the border too.

Former NSW coach Phil Gould has come out in defence of Slater this morning, tweeting a number of arguments as to why the No. 1 should play next Sunday.

“Any rule that penalises the collision Billy Slater executed to save a try for his team is a bad rule,” he said.

“Said this ever since the ban on so-called shoulder charges first introduced. Over zealous policing of shoulder charge leads us to undesirable outcome. Needs to be case-by-case.”

Originally published as Queensland legends throw support behind Billy Slater