Melbourne keen to re-sign rejuvenated Storm legend Billy Slater

MELBOURNE are keen to re-sign legendary fullback Billy Slater after his successful return from injury in recent weeks.

REPORTS of Billy Slater’s retirement have been greatly exaggerated.

Melbourne have put out the welcome mat for Slater to extend his decorated career into 2018 following the Storm ace’s inspirational comeback from dual shoulder operations.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the Storm have sounded out Slater about the prospect of a 16th season in the NRL as he prepares for Saturday night’s double header against the Titans.

Just a year ago, there were fears Slater — the greatest fullback in the code’s history — would never be seen again as he confronted the trauma of a second shoulder operation.

Slater has been in excellent form since returning from injury.

But Slater’s stunning renaissance this season has not only raised hopes of an Origin uprising, it has convinced the Storm there is still magic in the kid from Innisfail.

The Storm are mindful not to pressure Slater. They accept he is seven games into his comeback and could ostensibly be one serious injury away from retirement.

But with Cooper Cronk, a key pillar of the Storm’s Big Three, departing at season’s end, Slater has Melbourne’s blessing to continue his alliance with Cameron Smith next season.

“We would love Billy to be here for another 12 months,” Storm football-operations chief Frank Ponissi said.

“We’ve had some preliminary talk asking Billy about his current thoughts and at some stage we will escalate things further.

It was feared that Slater might never play again.

“We have enormous respect for what Billy has done for this club and for that reason we don’t want to pressure him into a decision.

“We’re still not sure if Billy will be here next year, but we’re hoping he will be.

“I see no reason whatsoever why Billy can’t play on for another 12 months. The only issue for us would be if Billy decided he has had enough.”

If Slater’s current form is any barometer, the 33-year-old will be hellbent on using his trademark footwork to sidestep retirement.

Only the most ardent Storm insider gave Slater any hope of being mentioned at the Origin selection table this season.

It seemed Billy the Kid was on the skids. Two shoulder operations. One NRL game in 12 months. His confidence shot at a time when Darius Boyd, his successor in the Maroons’ No. 1 jumper, was revelling in the best form of his career.

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But in the space of four months, Slater has gone from the Storm casualty ward to a virtual certainty for the Maroons for Origin I.

Maroons coach Kevin Walters never doubted Slater’s ability to rise from the canvas. It took one trip to Storm training over summer to convince Walters he would soon confront an Origin selection migraine.

“I didn’t have any concerns Billy could make it back,” Walters said at Wednesday’s Fox League launch of Saturday’s NRL double header at Suncorp Stadium. “I know there were some question marks hanging over him but I went down to Melbourne in pre-season for a visit.

“I watched him move. He was so quick and fit. I thought, ‘Wow, he’s still got it’.

“He’s not at his peak yet. There is still more to come from him in a few areas of his game, but if keeps playing like this, he will be hard to ignore for Queensland.”

The Slater fightback has not been without demons. Last year, pain shooting through his shoulder, he struggled to drive a car. For the first time, Ponissi saw Slater in his most vulnerable light.

“It was a huge battle to get him back,” he recalls. “The second time he did his shoulder was when Billy was at his absolute lowest.

Slater is poised for a return to State of Origin football.

“I remember talking to him after seeing the surgeon. He was shattered. He had worked so hard and broke down again. It was the first time I saw a bit of doubt in his own mind.

“It was never about his ability ... but whether his body could survive.”

By virtue of his recent turbulence, Slater has learned to take nothing for granted. Not a Queensland jumper. Not another 12-month contract extension. But in his soul, Slater knows he is still Origin quality.

“I’m a Queenslander and I haven’t played for Queensland for a couple of years,” he says. “I’d love the opportunity to get back in that arena, it’s a strong side, but hopefully I can continue to keep playing good football and if I do get that opportunity, I will make the most of it.

“Darius is a good mate of mine. It’s not a rivalry between Darius and myself, it’s what’s best for Queensland.

“My shoulder is going really well. I wasn’t surprised at how I’m playing, I expected myself to be better to be honest because I am always trying to improve my performance.

“My challenge now is to improve on that and maintain what I’m doing.”

Saturday’s NRL Round 10 double header, Storm v Titans and Broncos v Manly at Suncorp Stadium, will be telecast live and only on Fox League

Originally published as Melbourne keen to re-sign rejuvenated Storm legend Billy Slater