THE untold story of champion fullback Billy Slater’s amazing courage can finally be revealed.

The Storm star has secretly played the past two months with painkilling injections for a serious shoulder injury that now requires major surgery.

It will be announced on Monday that Slater is out of the Kangaroos squad for the Four Nations tournament, throwing the door open to either Parramatta’s Jarryd Hayne or South Sydney’s Greg Inglis to claim Australia’s No. 1 jersey.

No one knew anything about it until Slater reluctantly knocked back an invitation to the Dally M Awards to be held next week.

The tough fullback not once complained of the injury he suffered during Origin despite criticism of some of his unusually average end-of-season performances. He played on, often through excruciating pain to try to lift the Storm to the grand final.

He will undergo the surgery in Melbourne on Monday.

media_camera Slater has been nursing the shoulder injury during State of Origin.

Test coach Tim Sheens is now without Slater, Darius Boyd, Paul Gallen and Nate Myles from his Kangaroos outfit that beat the Kiwis this year.

The NRL was shocked when Slater knocked back his invitation to the Dally M Awards. It was then that it was informed of his shoulder surgery that Storm had kept under wraps for weeks.

Storm halfback Cooper Cronk and coach Craig Bellamy are on holidays and will also miss the night at The Star ballroom. However, the club will be well represented by Cameron Smith, Jesse Bromwich and Ryan Hoffman.

The Prime Minister, the Premier, James Packer and Russell Crowe are also expected to be there. So, too, will be Souths superstar Inglis, who is taking kids from the Starlight Foundation as his special guests.

media_camera Former Australia team swimmer Grant Hackett is rumoured to be back in the pool.

HACKETT BACK IN THE POOL

There has been a huge rumour doing the rounds that former swimming champion Grant Hackett is considering a comeback.

He’s back living on the Gold Coast and training every morning under his old coach Denis Cotterell at the Miami swimming club.

The three-time Olympic gold medallist is now 34 and looking in terrific shape.

He insists though that a full-on comeback is out of the question.

Hackett sent this text message: “No Olympic comeback unfortunately although a club relay would be a fantastic achievement at this point.

“If anything, I’m just doing it for a bit of fun and fitness.”

media_camera Swans star Josh Kennedy and partner Ana Calle. wearing watches courtesy of Tissot, preparing for the Brownlow Medal.

TIME FOR WAGS TO SHINE

IT’S that time of the season again when the WAGS often take the spotlight away from their superstar partners.

The Brownlow Medal on Monday night and the Dally M Awards next week will be as much about the glamour on the red carpet as the actual winners.

Colombian model Ana Calle is the partner of Sydney Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy.

Kennedy is considered an outside chance, but like most he’s tipping the great Buddy Franklin for the medal.

“I reckon Buddy will fare pretty well in the votes,” Kennedy said. “He has had a great year and doesn’t have to do too much to get people’s attention.’’

SYDNEY BELTS ROOS, MARCH INTO GF

BELLAMY DENIES QUITTING RUMOUR

Radio 3AW has the top-rating breakfast show in Melbourne. Each week the show runs a rumour segment and nine times out of ten they are on the money.

This week’s big rumour suggested Storm coach Craig Bellamy was on the verge of quitting after his team’s capitulation against the Bulldogs last week.

It’s surprising because Bellamy is under contract for another two seasons. He could not be contacted for comment.

ALANA TO SIGN OFF FROM FOX

A couple of years ago your columnist got into awful trouble when he rated the female sports TV presenters out of 10. The feminists conveniently overlooked the fact I did the males the following week — all for a bit of fun.

My No. 1 selection in a Cox Plate field was Fox Sports journo and presenter Alana Smith. Sadly, Alana has handed in her resignation at the network.

She is moving to Adelaide in two weeks with her partner Andrew Fagan, who has been appointed chief executive of the Adelaide Crows.

media_camera Brad Fittler’s Roosters affiliations affect his calling of the game.

CLUB AFFILIATIONS CALL THE SHOTS

IT’S hard to avoid bias in the media when so many rugby league commentators are employed by the NRL clubs.

Brad Fittler got a pasting last Friday night because of his relationship with the Roosters.

Gus Gould is GM of the Panthers, Andrew Johns a coach at Manly, Darren Lockyer is on the Broncos board and same with Ben Ikin at the Cowboys. Nathan Hindmarsh is an Eels assistant coach, Brett Kimmorley has been a Raiders assistant coach, Mark Gasnier and Wendell Sailor are Dragons ambassadors, while Jimmy Smith is a ground announcer for the Roosters. Greg Alexander is on the Penrith board.

Which proves one point ... if club affiliations prevented ex-players from working in the media, we’d actually have no one to call the games.

WE WANT VISIONS, TARGETS TO AIM FOR: GALLOP

LES AND DAVID OR BRIAN

FFA boss David Gallop is now answering to the name of ‘Brian’. Why so?

Fielding questions from the floor at his State of The Game presentation in Sydney on Thursday, Gallop was asked a question by respected SBS football commentator Les Murray, “So, Brian what are your plans with ...”

Is it any wonder poor old Les has decided to retire from commentary?

SAINT

The Swans through to another grand final. This is the best-run football club in the country in any of the codes. Go you good things. Show the Mexicans

SINNER

NRL finals crowds have become and embarrassment. Who would have thought in a rugby league city that one AFL semi-final would attract more people than two NRL semis.

BUZZ: RUGBY LEAGUE’S “MAJOR EMBARRASSMENT”

SHOOSH

Who is the female sports star whose ego is getting just a little out of control.

She is asking for outrageous amounts of appearance money for functions and promotions that others are often prepared to do for nothing.

SPOTTED

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler checking out a guitar shop near Belmore. Dessie has been known to enjoy a jam session in his spare time.

media_camera Dragons coach Paul McGregor is already facing problems for next season.

MARY MELTDOWN

Massive pressure is already building on new Saints coach Paul McGregor. For the second year in a row, the club has lost its most talented young player to a rival club. Last season it was Jackson Hastings to the Roosters, this year Jack Bird to the Sharks. Blues Origin stars Brett Morris and Trent Merrin also want out.

ODD COUPLE

What do NRL chief executive Dave Smith and footy legend Brad Fittler have in common? Their daughters play in the same Saturday morning eastern suburbs netball team and they are often seen together on courtside cheering and encouraging their little ones.

EAGLES ANGER

The relationship between Manly Sea Eagles players and their general manager Dave Perry has suffered from the club’s failure to offer Glenn Stewart a new contract. The players are even dirtier that Perry got a $30,000 bonus from the team making the top four while they did all the work to trigger the payment.

media_camera Tara Rushton will host Sunday’s Premier League action on Fox Sports with Bozza and Robbie Slater.

PREMIER ATTRACTION

Tara Rushton continues to kick goals in her role at Fox Sports. She will host her first Premier League broadcasts tonight alongside former EPL stars Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater.

Catch Tara, Bozza and Slater tonight from 10.00pm for the double-header starting with Leicester and Manchester United and then Man City’s clash with Chelsea.

TITLE SHOWDOWN 1: CITY V CHELSEA

POMS TAKE FFA CUP

Soccer types are getting excited over 5,500 people going to watch an FFA Cup tie on a cold night in Canberra last Tuesday, but the audience was a lot bigger than that.

UK Satellite channel BT Sport has bought the rights to the FFA Cup and is beaming every match into English lounge rooms.