Star Melbourne fullback Billy Slater is in a moon boot and in doubt for the Storm’s top-of-the-table NRL clash with South Sydney on Saturday night.
Coach Craig Bellamy confirmed Slater was struggling with a foot injury sustained in the Storm’s win over Wests Tigers on Monday night and had been put in the boot as a precaution.
Should Slater miss the match against the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium, it would be a huge blow for the premiers in their battle against the only other unbeaten team in the competition.
“He is wearing a moon boot – he’s got a problem with his foot,” Bellamy said on Wednesday.
“We’re not quite sure how bad the problem is at the moment, but we’ll see how he pulls up and hopefully he trains on Friday and we go from there.
“He’s certainly causing a little bit of angst at the moment, I must say, but if there’s any possibility of him being there, he’ll be there.
“(But) we certainly won’t be taking any chances with him.”
Should the injury be more serious, it could also impact Slater’s availability for Australia’s Test against New Zealand next Friday night.
Both the Storm and Rabbitohs have won their opening five matches of the season, with Bellamy’s former Storm assistant Michael Maguire now in charge at Souths.