It was an announcement well worth the wait.
At Tuesday night’s Player of the Year awards Billy Slater stood on stage and gave the overjoyed 800-strong crowd the answer they have waited all year for.
Slater will pull on the purple jersey again after agreeing to terms on a one-year deal for 2018.
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The 34-year-old completed one of sport’s greatest comeback stories on Sunday night when he was awarded the Clive Churchill medal for best afield in Storm’s Grand Final victory over the Cowboys.
Slater admitted he questioned whether his body would ever allow him to play again after serious shoulder issues left him sidelined for much of the last two years.
However he has not only just made it back, he is back to his best.
Now with his confidence restored and the purple army behind him, Slater is nowhere near finished yet.
“I’ve worked out what I want to do next year and that is to play on,” Slater said.
“Obviously the Grand Final was my priority and through the finals I hadn’t really given it too much thought.
“It has always been a physical decision for me.
“My body is feeling quite good and I’m ready to go around another year so I am looking forward to it.”
Slater is one of seven Storm players selected in Mal Meninga’s Australian team for the upcoming 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
