Storm ace Billy Slater confident his injured knee is on the mend

CONSTANT management will be required to get Billy Slater through to the 2012 season but he says playing is the best way to make his knee better.

CONSTANT management will be required to get Billy Slater through to the end of the season but the superstar fullback said playing was the best way to make his knee better.

In his second game back from a six week lay-off with a posterior cruciate ligament strain, Slater was speedy and zippy and constantly involved, setting up three of his team's eight tries.

He conceded his knee, which took a knock just before half-time that was enough to worry coach Craig Bellamy, wasn't yet 100 per cent.

But he also said he was no longer worrying about it.

"It's definitely not 100 per cent but it is improving and I am at the stage where I have to play to get it to improve," Slater said.

"If I had a week off it would probably be exactly the same as if I played.

"I felt really comfortable, and maybe I do favour it a bit, but that's the way it is.

"It actually doesn't worry me running and stepping, it's more when I am in the clear and at full pace and driving my knee though, that's when I feel it a bit.

"If I do get in the clear maybe I might have to look for (winger) Justin O'Neill. The main thing is I can get out and play and when I do I am not thinking about it."

Billy Slater

O'Neill too, who replaced Dane Nielsen in the side yesterday and scored two tries, left the field late as part of Storm's management of his groin issue, which Bellamy said would also be an ongoing matter.

"The more time he plays, the more it will flare up, so it was a precautionary thing to take him off," Bellamy said.

"He's had the two weeks off so it has certainly improved. Hopefully giving him that 10 minutes off can make a difference."

With O'Neill back with his playmaking buddies Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Gareth Widdop for the first time since Round 13 yesterday, Storm's attack looked to be back to its fluent best.

But Slater said the combination of the quartet was only part of the reason for Melbourne's return to form.

"Everyone played their role," Slater said.

"The boys ran hard, with support. We kicked well, we chased well and that wears sides down.

"It's important we work well as a team, play the ball quick, everyone then plays their roles as if they are going to get the footy. That's what we did.

"It was certainly a better feeling in the sheds, but we know we can improve. This should be the start of all of us getting better."