BILLY SLATER CLEARED TO PLAY

September 25, 2018

Melbourne fullback Billy Slater has been cleared to play in this weekend's NRL Grand Final, after being found not guilty of a shoulder charge in the Storm's win against Cronulla.

In a hearing that lasted more than three hours, the panel of former players Mal Cochrane, Sean Garlick, and Bob Lindner found in Slater's favour, after his defence team successfully argues that Slater had attempted to make contact with his arms to perform a legitimate tackle, and the shoulder contact was a split second incident in the heat of the battle.

While it is a relief for Melbourne, the decision was going to split rugby league fans no matter the verdict.  High profile analysts such as Brad Fittler and Phil Gould disagreed on the charge, so it was inevitable the rugby league world would react similarly.

If Cooper Cronk can defy the clock and recover sufficiently enough from his shoulder injury to take his part in the match, the 2018 NRL Grand Final could be one for the ages.