The panel involved in Billy Slater’s hearing have just confirmed that he has been found NOT GUILTY. He is now able to play the final match of his career on Sunday in the Grand Final. He is understandably very happy at the decision but he has been made to sweat for the outcome…
Billy Slater found not guilty of shoulder charge
It was all set to be the dream finish to a glittering career. Melbourne Storm’s Billy Slater announced his retirement from NRL after playing over 300 games and his final game was to be the fairytale ending – Melbourne Storm had made it to the final at ANZ Stadium where they will play Sydney Roosters on Sunday 30 September. A Grand Final win would have been the perfect send-off for Billy Slater.
It’s hard to believe this Friday night will be the last time I play a game in Melbourne. This city has welcomed me, my team and the game of RL with open arms and I’m truly appreciative.… https://t.co/XjMtiyBgKn
— Billy Slater (@billyslater) September 18, 2018
Then the unthinkable happened in the match against Cronulla – Slater was judged to shoulder charge Sosaia Feki, which is punishable by a ban that would see him miss the final. Slater and his team of course decided to appeal the ban, in the hope that it would get overturned so he could play his last match in the Grand Final. News has just broke to say that he has been found not guilty.
It was different for Luke Ricketson
One man who can sympathise with Slater’s torment as he feared missing the final is former Roosters skipper Luke Ricketson. He missed out on what would have been the most important game of his career when his appeal against a striking charge ban failed. In a recent interview, Ricketson described the event as “No doubt it’s probably the low-light of my career.”
The judiciary hearing involved a panel of Sean Garlick, Bob Lindner and Mal Cochrane to determine the verdict, after the prosecution gave their submission to the panel, following Slater giving his own account of the incident. His coach Craig Bellamy arrived with him at court.