Could Billy Slater be heading back to the Melbourne Storm?
That’s something which has been gathering pace recently as Fox Sports reports Slater could replace veteran boss Craig Bellamy at the Storm after Bellamy was given an extension to reach a decision on his future.
Storm chairman Matt Tripp has revealed that Bellamy will now have until March 31 to make his decision.
“He’s going to take some more time,” Tripp told NewsCorp.
“He isn’t 100 per cent either way. He needs to be 100 per cent for his sake and our sake. If he wants more time, I am more than comfortable that .…. it won’t drag on.“I just think it’s going to take a couple more weeks.”
The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio stated that the deadline extension would also be key for out-of-contract stars to decide on their future at the Storm.
“It’s really intriguing this one,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“He originally had until Thursday to tell the Melbourne Storm whether he’d be going around again next year.
“Not surprisingly, the Storm have given Bellamy more time to think about that.
“One, it gives both Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes time to consider their futures, Harry Grant I understand has re-signed and that’ll be announced next week. Bellamy’s future is so key to the Melbourne Storm.”
Harry
April 4, 2022 at 8:37 am
I think Billy Slater would be an appalling choice as a first grade coach.
The skill set required to be a head coach (primarily man-management) is different to the skill set required to be an NRL assistant coach (primarily technical) and both are wildly different to the skills required to be a successful player.
Since retiring, Billy has hung around the Queensland State Of Origin team, as a sort of assistant coach, but the skill set required coaching a rep side is different again (getting technically astute players to play the same way in THIS team, rather than playing the way they do for their clubs).
By all accounts, he is picking up what he can from the other two Queensland Assistant Coaches (who are both experienced coaches rather than players who have only recently hung up their boots).
No, I think the Melbourne front office will decide he is too risky a proposition.