Maroons move to extend Billy Slater contract as Storm circle

Fresh off orchestrating a 2022 Origin ambush, Billy Slater is a coach in demand and the Storm and Maroons great may be forced to choose between both sooner rather than later.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 25: Billy Slater, coach of the Maroons addresses the media during a State of Origin media opportunity at Forrest Place on June 25, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The Queensland Rugby League will table a lucrative new contract to retain Billy Slater as Melbourne revealed plans for the Storm fullback legend to replace super coach Craig Bellamy.

News Corp can reveal the Maroons and Melbourne are locked in a ‘Battle for Billy’ with Storm chairman Matt Tripp confirming club icon Slater is on his hit list of candidates to succeed Bellamy.

Slater is off-contract at the end of this year’s Origin campaign but Queensland bosses want him on board for a longer term after steering the Maroons to an epic series win over the Blues in his rookie season in 2022.

But Queensland could be blown out of the water by the Storm, who are increasingly resigned to Bellamy retiring as head coach this year and are ready to implement a mentoring succession plan.

Storm legend Slater is at the epicentre of Tripp’s blueprint to ensure Melbourne remains an NRL juggernaut.

Both the Maroons and Storm want Billy Slater. Picture: Getty Images

Tripp made it clear he wants Bellamy to remain in charge in 2024, but said if the 64-year-old opts to stand down after a 20-year Purple Reign, Slater will be among his targets.

“We’d be mad not to look at someone like Billy Slater,” Tripp said.

“Billy is a legend of this club, he is an inspiration and he is one of six or seven candidates we are looking at to replace Craig.

“To be honest, my first priority is to keep Craig as head coach and talking to him about why I would love for him to go on for another season.

“I haven’t started planning yet, but if we have to start planning to replace Craig, Billy is in the mix.

“Billy would be a great coach of the Storm. He is smart and highly-regarded, but I have to be respectful to Craig and the other candidates.”

Slater is widely regarded as the greatest fullback in rugby league history, scoring 190 tries from 319 games for Melbourne, while also amassing 30 Tests for Australia and 31 Origin matches for Queensland.

The 39-year-old has made a slick transition to commentary and his expert analysis for Channel 9 has rubber-stamped Slater as one of the sharpest minds in the code.

Billy Slater and Ben Hunt of the Maroons celebrate victory after game three of the 2022 State of Origin Series. Picture: Getty Images

His tactical brain was underlined last season, when QRL hierarchy gambled on Slater to replace Paul Green and hit the jackpot as the unproven coach masterminded the Maroons’ stunning boilover of the Blues.

Slater originally inked a two-year contract to coach Queensland and has told the QRL he will wait until the completion of this year’s to decide if he desires another term at Camp Maroon.

QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher confirmed he is keen to secure Slater for 2024 and beyond, but concedes the Maroons could face a fight from the Storm.

“The dogs are barking on this one (that Slater could succeed Bellamy),” Hatcher said.

“We would like to extend him but Billy has told us he wants to get to the end of this Origin series and review things then.

“Hopefully he is the Origin coach this year and next, but Craig Bellamy has indicated this could be his last season, so we may have a battle on our hands to keep Billy.

“I have no doubt Billy would be a success at Melbourne but we are rapt in his approach and we would love to keep him as Queensland coach for a longer term.”

Storm chairman Matt Tripp.

Speaking recently on the Billy Slater Podcast, the Maroons mentor said he didn’t see himself as an NRL coach “at the moment”.

“The Melbourne Storm mean a lot to me,” he said. “I’ve spent half my life at that club, and I’m still there now as a part-time coach, still contributing to the club.”

But Tripp concedes D-Day is fast approaching for the Storm.

Bellamy has flirted with retirement several times over the past decade, but this time Tripp believes his intentions are real, bringing Slater firmly into the coaching equation.

Other options for the Storm include current assistant Marc Brentnall, former right-hand man Jason Ryles, ex-Melbourne prop Brett White and Souths premiership coach Michael Maguire, who once worked under Bellamy.

The Storm are waiting on Craig Bellamy to decide his future. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Craig has given every indication that this year will be his last year and this time I believe him compared to years gone by,” Tripp said.

“He suggests this year is his last and I have to take him on face value.

“While we are going through some patches of bad form and we have lost some great players, I honestly believe Craig is coaching as well as he ever has and I still think he is the best coach in the game and the guy to coach our club in 2024.

“Craig Bellamy is a once-in-a-lifetime coach and fortunately for us he is at the Storm and he will be for years to come, but it’s just a matter of in what capacity.

“I’m clinging on at the moment and living in hope that he decides to coach on for another year.

“But if that’s not to be, we ideally would want someone that has been in our system before and knows our DNA.

“Billy Slater will certainly be one of six or seven candidates that we will look at.”

Originally published as Maroons move to extend Billy Slater contract as Storm circle