Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater to join NRL 300 club, ponders playing future
BILLY Slater will become just the 31st player in NRL history to reach the 300-game milestone on Saturday, and the Melbourne Storm legend has left the door ajar to add to the milestone.
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BILLY Slater has left the door ajar to play on next season at Melbourne Storm.
But the champion fullback, set to become just the 31st player in NRL history to reach the 300-game milestone on Saturday night, said a decision could be made mid-season.
“I feel good at training, it will be getting back into the games and getting back into the rhythm of it but I think that decision will be made,” Slater said.
“I don’t want to put a date on it but it will be made during the season, sometime I’d imagine.
“I’ve always said this will probably be my last year, but you want to be definite.
“You don’t want to go out and make a statement before you’ve even played a game this year.”
Slater is off contract at the end of the season along with premiership captain Cameron Smith and coach Craig Bellamy.
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Slater was on record pace to achieve the milestone before two shoulder reconstructions wrecked the 2015 and 2016 campaigns.
He returned in sensational fashion last year, powering Storm to the premiership while picking up a third Dally M Fullback of the Year award and second Clive Churchill Medal.
Slater’s milestone was delayed again last week with shoulder soreness ruling him out of the season-opener.
“I notched up the first 270 pretty quick but the last three years has been a bit slow so that makes it that little bit more special,” Slater said.
Slater has revolutionised the way fullbacks play in the NRL since making his debut in 2003 under supercoach Bellamy.
Bellamy gave a glowing endorsement of Slater’s contribution to the game, club and country — on and off the field.
“I haven’t seen them all (fullbacks) but I’ve see a fair few and certainly (Slater is) the best I’ve seen,” Bellamy said.
“I couldn’t imagine too many more better fullbacks than Billy.”
Slater’s ability to break lines at speed, impact with clean hands and a precise passing game, and direct traffic up the field is unsurpassed in the NRL.
“People outside the club think of the flash, flair and excitement he brings in the way he plays,” Bellamy said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player handle the grind better than Billy, and it is a grind ... especially the amount of work he puts in.
“The results that he gets out of that is excitement and flair for everyone that enjoys our game.
“They love watching Billy Slater play, kids love watching Billy Slater play and he’d be the reason some kids play our game.”
Originally published as Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater to join NRL 300 club, ponders playing future