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Even if they said it wasn’t the case, allowing Billy Slater the privilege to end his illustrious career on his own terms in this weekend’s NRL grand final loomed as a mitigating factor in whether or not the judiciary would find Slater guilty or not of a shoulder charge.
But emotion set aside, the outcome is still the correct one.
Watching it live at the ground, being an avid AFL supporter and Melbourne Storm fanatic, the bump looked fantastic. Slater in all his glory put his body on the line to save a certain Cronulla try, and seeing it live was undoubtedly beautiful.
But then on the way home on the train, I discovered that Slater had been cited for a shoulder charge on the play, and that he would be likely suspended and disallowed from featuring in the big dance.
Now for a code which prides itself on being tougher and more brutal than the AFL, I couldn’t help but have a laugh as the play would have been perfectly legal in the AFL sphere.
I understand the ruling behind a shoulder charge and the many cases before which have seen suspensions for such an action, but can you honestly say the rule was brought to prevent an incident such as this one?
Billy Slater of the Storm (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
This incident involved two players, at high speed, with an unavoidable collision the obvious outcome. What Slater did was nothing short of remarkable, and such a try-saving act as this one should be applauded, not condemned.
The bias the rest of the NRL world have against the Melbourne Storm is undeniable. And to have the chance to see Slater, who is such a key contributor to his side, potentially miss out on the grandest stage of all would have satisfied these critics.
For them, it was an opportunity that was too good to be true and hence all the hate came his way. The wanting of his head on a plate followed.
This decision has applied common sense, and the league should be thankful that it has done so because if Slater had been suspended for that act, looking back on this in ten years’ time we will be saying what a terrible judgment it was.
Rugby league is supposed to be a brutally tough sport, and if it wishes to remain as such and ahead of the AFL in this factor, then they have done well in allowing Slater to play this weekend.
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