By Alan Nicolea
October 5th 2008 @ 12:04am
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Slater and Stewart battling for supremacy
The NRL premiership will not be the only thing on both Brett Stewart and Billy Slater’s minds this afternoon. Although the two fullbacks will humbly admit it is of little importance now, the Australian No.1 jersey will also be on the line when both teams take to the ANZ Stadium.
Stewart and Slater have terrific portfolios, so in the end, the selectors will have a pleasant, albeit, painful, headache when it comes to signalling out either Slater or Stewart for the spot.
Stewart has the most potent try scoring record in the competition at the moment.
The Manly no.1 has scored 92 tries from just 111 first grade games. Twenty two of those four pointers have come this season alone, allowing Stewart to become the unrivalled leading try scorer this year.
Although his counterpart from the Storm cannot match that area of Stewart’s game, Slater has enough firepower of his own to convince the selectors he is the man.
Slater was the fullback for Australia in the Anzac test earlier this year, where the Kangaroos emerged victorious. Also helping Slater’s cause is his form this season, coming within a whisker of claiming the Dally M player of the year award from the clutches of Sea Eagles half Matt Orford.
Only a lack of discipline on Dragons winger Jason Nightingale cost him the game’s premier individual honour.
Overall though, it seems Slater has one foot in the door in terms of Test selection.
In matches against Stewart, Slater has emerged victorious in three of the past four meetings.
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oikee said | October 6th 2008 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Unforunately Melbourne Storm have been caught out in their own web allan. The last 5 years of having wrestling coaches and spoiling tactics have dstroyed the Storm and left a foul taste in everyone’s mouth this side of the Melbourne border. I, in no way blame any of the players so as you might well know, i am about to give it to Bellamy and let you know, (if you dont already) what i really think of this pillack.
He (bellamy) is a disgrace to the Melbourne team and supporters. He is a new south wales coach mainly coaching queensland players. What he has done will probably take 10 years to fix. Also have mentioned his remarks and what i thought of them, but to let his players down like he has is disgraceful. If the Melbourne supporters feel let down by yesterdays results they have good reason. His tactics have taught all coaches how not to win fans and support exspecially in a aussie rules dominate state.
As for the rest of Victoria apart from those loyal supporters you have every reason to not support league because this is the way the game should never be played. I myself would love nothing better than the storm to dissolve and league move to perth where they would be appretiated rather than play out of Melbourne who just dont care.
Also to answer your comment on who will get the Australian jersey, i think Stewart will because he deserves it, and thats another thing, Bellamy has robbed so many storm players of a test jumper after all these years, he should be publicly hung , draw and quartered, and left out to dry on a aussie rule patch somewhere so everyone can remember him as the disgrace he is to league. He not only let his players down, he has let Queenslanders down, but what would you expect from a welshman.
Yes i am angry but so would you be if it was a team full of victorians who had there international careers slaughtered by this pillack. I am toataaly happy for the backlash i am about to receive from other bloggers, but i have said my piece.
Alan Nicolea said | October 6th 2008 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
Oikee
You have every right to express your thoughts. But i too have a right to disagree with you. I think Craig Bellamy has done totally the opposite at Melbourne than what you state above. Hell, the likes of Inglis and Slater truly respect him and i think he has promoted rugby league down south well . I would not go as far as ridding the Storm from the NRL. This is a team that has developed some of the game’s biggest superstars mate. You might hate the wrestling and the chicken wing crap and whatnot, but Melbourne have also been a great footy side aswell.
Next year however, i think they will struggle.
After their win in the Grand Final, yeh, i think Stewart is odds on favourite for the Australian No.1 jumper.
Skull said | October 6th 2008 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
Slater need to look very carefully at the placement of hsi feet when the opposition goes in for a try. That performance when Roob scored in the corner was disgraceful and in soccer would have earned him a straight red for a studs up challenge. Sooner or later he will collect someone in the head or someone is going to get up and smash him. Any way Melboune got what they deserved from their cynical brand of football so hopefully now that Manly are the benchmark then other teams will try to emulate their free flowing style.
Skull said | October 6th 2008 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
Sorry should be when Robbo scored
oikee said | October 6th 2008 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
Thanks alan, yes i carried on abit about Bellamy because i think he has lost the storm respect by his coaching style, to become the most hated team requires a lot of effort, and he now has to coach footy back into their game. As for my other comment about getting rid of storm i know this will never happen so its just a comment because i am pissed off at bellamy for costing his players a spot in the test team. No worries alan, i still like the storm, just bellayacke has done his dash with me. I do enjoy the storms supporters.
Alan Nicolea said | October 6th 2008 @ 2:56pm | Report comment
Skull
Slater does have a tendancy to put his studs up when trying to stop a try. It has worked on several occasions for him but he does need to be careful. But not even Slater’s unique defence could spot his Storm side rotting to their worst performance in three seasons. But Manly were terrific .
Skull said | October 6th 2008 @ 3:06pm | Report comment
Alan, I like to think that the Storm played as well as they were allowed. The only guy the Storm had who looked like he could do anything was Folau. What has happened to Inglis? Maybe his mind is somewhere else (in France with SBW)
oikee said | October 6th 2008 @ 4:10pm | Report comment
No player is bigger than the game, if he wants to go to union i think they might help him pack his bags after that performance.
Lyon was good , but i have always rated him, heard alot of bad things about him but i even thought his game in last years grand final was good. Hope he gets a spot because the english have a soft spot for him as well. He was after-all rated “man of steel” a few years ago. Cheers..
Alan Nicolea said | October 6th 2008 @ 5:10pm | Report comment
Skull
His mind is definetly not at five-eighth. He is an attacking centre, fullback or winger. Against the better teams, Inglis at five-eighth does not work at all. Manly proved it. Its time for Bellamy to cast Inglis back where he always belonged.