MELBOURNE superstar Billy Slater has officially been charged by the NRL with a shoulder charge offence that kills his grand final fairytale and ends his career immediately.

The charge could end Slater’s career in the cruellest fashion after he delivered a stunning solo performance in the Storm’s 22-6 win over Cronulla in the grand final qualifier at AAMI Park on Friday night.

The NRL has announced the Match Review Committe has hit the 35-year-old with a grade one shoulder charge offence for his first half hit on Sharks winger Sosaia Feki.

The grade one charge carries a minimum 200 demerit points and bans Slater from the grand final even with an early guilty plea.

Slater will now have to try to fight the charge at one of the biggest judiciary hearings in the game’s history.

Melbourne confirmed almost immediately after the announcement that Slater will contest the charge at the judiciary.

Storm football manager Frank Ponissi told Triple M on Saturday the club has already identified a strong defence for Slater and expect to be able to present their case at a hearing on Monday night or Tuesday night.

“Since last night we’ve been onto our defence team and we want to give him the best possible chance to play next Sunday night,” he told Triple M NRL.

“Certainly it’s one where we believe we’ve got a good case.

“For us it’s a difficult one because it’s not your conventional shoulder charge where two players are running directly at each other.

“This is a unique situation where a bloke is flying at incredible speed into a corner and a player comes back. So we believe there’s enough in that to mount a really good case.”

If the judiciary upholds the Match Review Committee’s ruling then Slater’s retirement has already begun.

Shock evidence emerged on Saturday that could in fact see Slater freed to play in the grand final.

Video replays of Slater’s charging hit on Feki froze the entire NRL world as commentators immediately declared the star No. 1 could be suspended for next Sunday’s NRL grand final at ANZ Stadium.

Legends, including Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurston, Brad Fittler and Peter Sterling told Channel 9 that it didn’t look good for Slater — under the current rule interpretations surrounding shoulder charges.

However, it is the rules themselves that could set Slater free to play the winner of the Roosters and the Rabbitohs next week.

NRL commentators on Friday night and Saturday morning pointed out that a technicality in Slater’s tackling technique that went overlooked during the live broadcast of the game could prompt the judiciary panel to evaluate Slater’s hit as a legitimate tackle.

Under NRL rules a player can be charged if the contact from a shoulder charge is forceful or if the player did not use, or attempt to use, his arms (including his hands) to tackle.

TV replays showed Slater’s right arm briefly hovered near the ball in Feki’s hands — potentially proving the star fullback was trying to execute a tackle and did not negligently smash Feki with his shoulder.

Even if Billy Slater gets charged today by MRC, suspect he will get off. More I look at it, more I am convinced there is a wrapping motion with his right arm. He should be okay — Brent Read (@brentread_7) September 22, 2018

Could this save Billy fairytale? pic.twitter.com/Yb1FbOhEJP — Adam Hawse (@AdamHawse) September 21, 2018

So if it’s deemed Billy Slater’s right hand makes contact in the “tackle” is Billy clear to play under @nrl rules? pic.twitter.com/vOsiVjD9m1 — Todd Balym (@balymt) September 21, 2018

Rugby league legend Phil Gould was one of the loudest stars to come out in support of Slater and even shared a message he received from former NRL judiciary chairman Paul Conlon.

In the message Conlon outlined that Slater should be cleared to play in the grand final because there was no danger or “unacceptable risk of injury” to Feki.

Billy Slater risks serious injury to himself with any other kind of tackle under the circumstances. These players are at full speed. The best result for both players was the collision that took place. Less danger for both. No one injured. Play on. — Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) September 22, 2018

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan agreed in his press conference after the game, declaring Slater should be allowed to play because of his hand position.

Flanagan could prove to be Slater’s most important character reference this week after declaring that Slater won’t have a case to answer.

“I thought he had a hand in there actually,” Flanagan said.

“What do you want him to do there? I’m not quite sure. 100 per cent, he’ll be there next week, or he should be.”

Cronulla’s Luke Lewis also leapt to the defence of Slater, implying the game’s gone soft if the Melbourne superstar is banned for his farewell NRL grand final.

“What do you want him to do?” Lewis said.

“He’s one of the best defensive fullbacks in the game and you have to stop a try and put your body on the line.

“If someone was to miss a game for something like that, I don’t know what our game would be coming to. It’s a contact sport.

“I don’t think there was anything in it to be honest. If there’s anyone I want see play on grand final day, it’s Billy Slater.”

Slater told Channel 9 after the game that he only carried out the shoulder charge because he was unable to avoid putting his body in any other shape while charging in at Feki at high speed.

“I was just coming across at speed, I actually thought Sosaia Feki was going to step back on the inside and there was a collision,” Slater said.

“In the end it was one of those things where both players were running at speed to get to a position, it would have been an awkward position to put my head in if I had to duck it down.

“There was no malice in that or anything.”

If Slater was to be charged, he would follow in the footsteps of captain Cameron Smith who missed the 2008 grand final due to a suspension.

Former South Sydney hooker Issac Luke is the last big name to be ruled out of a grand final at the judiciary after being charged with a dangerous throw in 2014.

The mammoth implications of Slater’s tackle continues to divide NRL commentators.

Legends, including Andrew Johns and Gould earlier called on the NRL to allow Slater to play because the rules are unfair.

Others want Slater to play because he deserves to go out on grand final day.

There are still those that believe the NRL can’t afford to let Slater play.

Imagine all the bullshit next week about billy Slater!! Please let him play..don’t charge him @NRL just so we can focus on the greatest weekend of the year! The GRAND FINAL..no Pressure judiciary!! Dare you to suspend him!!! — Willie Mason WMM 💯🇦🇺🇹🇴 (@mase21) September 22, 2018

I’d love nothing more than seeing Billy Slater finish his career in the GF, but the NRL can’t possibly bend rules. If Slater isn’t charged it’s a free-for-all in 2019. The greatest fullback I’ve ever seen should NOT play in the Grand Final, sorry Billy, you’re still a legend — Mark Levy (@marklevy2gb) September 21, 2018

Any rule that penalises the collision Billy Slater executed to save a try for his team is a bad rule. Said this ever since the ban on so-called shoulder charges first introduced. Over zealous policing of shoulder charge leads us to undesirable outcome. Needs to be case by case. — Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) September 21, 2018

That is not a shoulder charge.... if you have ever played the game you would 100% know. Absolute bull dusts. If you ask me. Great tackle from a great player. #letbillplay @billyslater @wwos @NRL @FOXNRL https://t.co/MXKTsu338x — Jharal Yow Yeh (@Jharalyowyeh5) September 21, 2018

I actually think it's pretty sad Billy Slater could end his career suspended, but given the rules I can't see how he won't be, GF or not. — Clinton Maynard (@ClintMaynard2UE) September 21, 2018

If @billyslater misses the grand final because of that innocuous bump that didn’t go high or cause any harm at all they may as well cancel the @nrl. — Dave Hughes (@DHughesy) September 21, 2018

It doesn’t really matter if it’s a bad rule. It’s a rule. Billy did have an alternative he just chose to use the shoulder. He rolled the dice. In saying that I hope he plays @BigSportsBrekky @storm #NRLSharksStorm #BillySlater https://t.co/uw77bmZ3at — Terry Kennedy (@TK_BSB) September 22, 2018

— with AAP