Billy Slater’s NRL career could be over as Storm belt Sharks 22-6 to advance to grand final
BILLY Slater’s storied career could end prematurely with the fullback facing suspension for a shoulder charge, while Cameron Smith hinted he could join his teammate in retirement should they win the grand final.
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BILLY Slater’s storied career could end prematurely with the Melbourne fullback facing an anxious wait to see if he will be rubbed out of the grand final because of a shoulder charge.
While skipper Cameron Smith - who is off-contract - hinted he may follow Slater into retirement if the Storm walk away as premiers next week saying it is something he may consider in a cryptic post-game speech. Smith indicated he had every intention to play on but said he would ponder his future after next week.
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Slater scored two tries, laid on another and ran for a game high 179 metres in the Storm’s 22-6 demolition of the Sharks in a performance Craig Bellamy described as “inspirational”. But his final match in Melbourne in front of 26,621 people was marred by a first half try-saving tackle. In trademark Slater fashion, he raced across the field and collected Sosaia Feki with his shoulder before being penalised.
Slater said he was unconcerned.
“I was going across in desperation to try and save the try,” Slater said. “I was at top speed. Sosaia Feki was at top speed. I thought he was going to step inside me, hence why I got my body in an awkward position. Hard to make a conventional tackle when you’re going across at top speed when you stop a try like that. I wasn’t worried.”
Despite not being placed on report, the 14th minute tackle will come under the scrutiny of the match review committee with the findings expected on Saturday afternoon. Any shoulder charge has a base penalty of 200 points which would mean Slater needs to be cleared at the judiciary if he is to play again in what would be the cruellest of blows to one of the game’s best players.
Slater found an unlikely ally in Sharks coach Shane Flanagan who said “100 per cent (Slater) should be there (in the grand final).
“I thought he had a hand in there,” Flanagan said. “He hit him with one shoulder, one hand. What do you want him to do there? For his team he needs to save a try. He did his best.”
Slater has been suspended nine times in his career with the last in 2014 and has no carry over points. Smith missed the 2008 decider because of suspension joining the likes of Issac Luke and Luke Ricketson to be banned from recent grand finals while Justin Hodges was cleared at the judiciary in the lead-up to the 2015 premiership match.
Seventeen gamer Jahrome Hughes is the man most likely to line-up at the back if Slater was suspended.
While the post-game fall-out focuses on Slater’s uncertainty, the Storm were ruthless as they booked themselves a third consecutive grand final replicating their efforts of 2007-2009.
Only the Cooper Cronk led Sydney Roosters or a South Sydney side who they beat by just one point two weeks ago stand in the way of Melbourne becoming the first side since 1992-93 to defend a premiership title.
Melbourne rushed to a 20-0 half-time lead as they suffocated the life out of Cronulla before adding only two points in the second half.
Bellamy was pleased with his teams opening half.
“I thought our first half was outstanding,” Bellamy said. “The score showed that. The second half we tried a few things that we didn’t practice.
“We want to win next week but we know how tough it’s going to be.
“It’s harder to make a grand final now. If it’s harder to make it, it’s harder to win it.”