In the same week that Maroons coach has declared the fullback’s jersey for Queensland is up for grabs, Origin teammate Greg Inglis has backed Billy Slater to return to the game in peak form.
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Filling in for the injured Slater last season, Darius Boyd won the Ron McAuliffe Medal as Queensland’s player of the series.
From all reports, Slater is recovering well from shoulder surgery and could be fit for the Storm’s March 3 opener against Canterbury – and Inglis reckons it’s just what the game needs.
“I think the game wants to see him back,” Inglis said.
“Knowing Bill and knowing the injuries he’s had and going through his rehabilitation, he’s just the ultimate professional in how he does things.
“I’ve got no doubt he’ll be back this year, whether it’s round one or round two that’s their [Melbourne Storm] call.
“I’d like to see him run around for another few years but more importantly he’s just an all-round good guy.”
34 in June, Slater is no spring chicken. His ability to reproduce even a portion of the form he’s become synonymous with will have a huge bearing on another position at the Storm: five-eighth.
Cameron Munster, who tore it up as Slater’s replacement in 2016, will have first crack, though he played predominantly as a fullback in the trials.
19-year-old Brodie Croft could also see time in the six jersey, after impressing in trials.
