Buettner was quoted on the NRL's own website two years ago labelling a tackle by Koroibete on Penrith's Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ''a desperate tackle or bump''. "You can see Koroibete making his way across at great speed, and when you look at the incident no charge was applicable,'' Buettner said. Loading The Storm could see no difference with Slater's tackle who was also racing across at speed. Unlike Feki who bounced back to his feet, Watene-Zelezniak was required to undergo shoulder scans. Ghabar could yet raise Buettner's comments during the most anticipated hearing of the year.

Five different judiciary panel members have been used this season, including Slater's former Storm and Queensland teammate Dallas Johnson and former Roosters captain Sean Garlick. There are no rules preventing Johnson sitting in on the case, however he remains unlikely to form part of the three-man panel. Melbourne are adamant Slater's 14th-minute hit on Feki was a collision, not a shoulder charge. And the point they will stress is that there was never an unacceptable risk of injury to Feki - the reason the shoulder charge was outlawed in 2012. 'Collision': The Storm plan to argue Slater's hit on Sosaia Feki constituted a collision, not a shoulder charge. Credit:Nine As it stands, a player can be charged with a shoulder charge if there is ''forceful contact'', and if there is no attempt to use the arms or hands to complete a tackle. The ''forceful contact'' element will be debated.

"There is forceful contact with every tackle made in the game,'' one source told the Herald. "To be rubbed out for a shoulder charge, you'd like to think there was also an unnecessary risk of injury, which is not the case here with Billy.'' Slater made his first public appearance since Friday's 22-6 win over Cronulla when he sat in the front row next to Bellamy for Melbourne's team photo at AAMI Park. Several high-profile teammates said it must have been tough for Slater, especially having to wait so long to find out if he can play one last time. The fact the hearing could not be brought forward 24 hours to Monday night was not well received down south. Nervous wait: Slater signs autographs at the Storm's fan day on Monday. Credit:AAP Cameron Munster said he would have executed the same tackle if placed in Slater's shoes.

"I'd try and do the same thing, but I don't know if I'd be able to stop him as well as Bill did,'' Munster said. "It was quick, there was no contact to the head, so that needs to be taken into consideration. He was also bracing himself. "It would be tough [for him]. He's already made the announcement to retire and now has this judiciary hearing hanging over his head and worrying if he can play or not. It would be less stressful if it was an injury because knowing Bill with his recovery, he does everything by the book to get right for the game. This one is out of his hands. I'm rooting all the way he plays.'' Slater trained on Monday but back-up fullback Jahrome Hughes also spent time in the position. One of the Storm's three owners, Matt Tripp, told the Herald: "Regardless of the player in question, I've seen a lot worse tackles over the course of the season just gone, and the season prior, which haven't even made it to the judiciary. "We can't use examples of other incidents in our defence, but if we could there would be half a dozen clear-cut tackles that were worse than Billy's.

"I hope for the sake of the club and moreso for Billy that common sense prevails and he's free to play. The boss of BetEasy, Tripp said the uncertainty over Slater and the Roosters' Cooper Cronk, who is battling a shoulder injury, made Sunday's clash ''the best toss-of-a-coin grand final in years'' for punters.