MELBOURNE Storm coach Craig Bellamy remains confident that star fullback Billy Slater will be fit to take his place in the team for round one after the club’s fullback stocks took a further hit in Friday night’s testimonial match for Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston.

The match itself finished in the only manner it could — Thurston conjuring a try with 18 seconds left on the lock for the Cowboys to win 16-14 — but the post-game analysis centred on injuries to three players that could have dramatic consequences two weeks out from the start of the 2018 NRL season.

North Queensland fullback Lachlan Coote lasted only 12 minutes before he left the field with hamstring tightness, teammate Kane Linnett could face a lengthy stint on the sidelines depending on the severity of a pectoral injury while Jahrome Hughes dislocated his shoulder as he tried to usher a grubber kick across the dead-ball line.

Round 20

Storm forward Joe Stimson was also a casualty, coming from the field for treatment after copping a heavy head knock.

Thankfully for Hughes his shoulder popped back into place relatively easily but the full extent of the damage won’t be known until the results of scans either on Saturday or Sunday back in Melbourne.

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Given Slater’s scare in last week’s World Club Challenge losing another No.1 on the eve of their premiership defence is less than ideal preparation for the Storm but Bellamy is confident his champion fullback will recover in time to take his place.

“He had a scan this week, he went and saw the specialist this week that did the second operation and he’s reasonably happy with where he’s at,” Bellamy said after the game attended by 20,445 hearty fans in atrocious conditions.

“Whether he plays round one — we think he will — but we’re not going to take too many chances there.

“There wasn’t any more damage done to the shoulder he just gave it a real jar up apparently so he’s still got a fair bit of soreness in there and it might take a little while to settle down.

MATCH CENTRE: Storm v Cowboys

“He wouldn’t have played tonight but we think he’s a good chance of playing round one.”

As for the injury to Hughes suffered in the 22nd minute, Bellamy was devastated for a young player that has been plagued by injuries in his short career but was also hopeful that the news from the medical staff will be positive in the coming days.

“He dislocated his shoulder so we’re not sure how long he’s going to be out or how much damage he’s done,” Bellamy said.

“At least they got it back in pretty quickly and easily so that’s probably a good sign.

“Until he has a scan we won’t know how much damage he’s done.”

It will be an anxious wait also for Cowboys coach Paul Green with both Lachlan Coote and Kane Linnett headed for scans when they return to Townsville.

Coote suffered a slight hamstring strain during pre-season training three weeks ago and after going through the rehab process was given the all clear to line up against his team’s grand final combatants for his first and only trial game before round one.

The 27-year-old, however, lasted little more than 10 minutes before being replaced by Ben Hampton at the back, Coote telling foxsports.com.au that he doesn’t expect it to stop him from playing against the Sharks in round one.

Jahrome Hughes injured for Storm. Source: FOX SPORTS

“Everything went well during the training, I felt sweet going out there, warm up was sweet and then just obviously tightened up a little bit.

“Hopefully the scans and everything will be sweet and I’ll be right for round one.

“Three weeks ago I had a slight little strain in it. I did all the rehab and stuff so everything was sweet but just obviously one of those things tonight where it just tightened up a bit.

“Hopefully just precautionary coming off and there’ll be no further action.”

The most concerning injury for the Cowboys could be the injury to Linnett who when he left the field midway through the second half told Fox League’s sideline eye Andy Raymond that “he felt something in his pec”.

Jahrome Hughes stays down injured with a shoulder problem. Source: FOX SPORTS

Hat-trick hero Kyle Feldt was unsure of the extent of the injury to Linnett after the game but said that youngsters such as Javid Bowen have shown they can compete in the NRL should their veteran left centre be sidelined for an extended period.

“Javid Bowen has played there and got a few games under his belt,” said Feldt.

“If ‘Kano’ is out and he comes in he’s going to do a good job.

“He showed last year how good he is.”

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