Found in the Brizzy Times TODAY
..... This'll get the adrenalin running Geeves!
Reds keep calm on Slater 'move' By PHIL LUTTON
RED FLAG: The Queensland Reds are on alert after Billy Slater has been linked with a switch to rugby with revelations of a Mark Gasnier-style clause in his NRL contract.
Queensland Reds fans could be forgiven for allowing themselves to daydream of electric fullback Billy Slater searing through opposing Super 14 defences.
The Melbourne Storm and Australian fullback, this week voted the best rugby league player on the planet, had been linked with a switch to rugby after the revelation of a Mark Gasnier-style clause in his contract.
The clause gives him the freedom to leave the Storm at the end of next season should a big offer be forthcoming from either rugby union, likely to be backed by the ARU, or the English Super League.
Slater's native Queensland would be the obvious port of call for the brilliant custodian, with Reds high performance manager Ben Whitaker declaring he wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't gauge Slater's availability or interest.
But Reds coach Phil Mooney said no talks had been held or scheduled with the NRL star, with the club only being alerted to the clause in Slater's contract via a phone call yesterday.
He said Slater would have to express a desire to switch to the XV-man code if the matter was to progress past the idea stage.
"Obviously he's a hugely talented football player and he's a Queensland boy, but he would have to express a genuine interest in playing rugby for the right reasons," Mooney said.
The Reds had shown a general interest in Broncos fullback Karmichael Hunt, off contract at the end of next season, although Hunt's off-field behaviour is likely to have taken some of the lustre off his appeal.
Keep us up to date mate....would be HUGE
......best RL player on the planet
Cheers,
Baz
