Slater and Stewart battling for World Cup supremacy
October 4th 2008 10:26
The NRL premiership will not be the only thing on both Brett Stewart and Billy Slater's minds come Sunday afternoon.
Although the two fullbacks will humbly admit it is of little importance now, the Australian no.1 jersey will also be on the line when both the Storm and the Sea Eagles take to the surface of ANZ stadium.
Both Stewart and Slater have terrific portfolios to suggest each will, at least, get a shot at the custodian role for the Kangaroos in the Rugby League World Cup.
In the end, the selectors will have a pleasant, albeit, painful headache when it comes to signalling out either Slater or Stewart for the spot.
Stewart has the most potent try scoring record in the competition at the moment. The Manly no.1 has scored 92 tries from just 111 first grade games.
Twenty two of those four pointers have come this season alone, allowing Stewart to become the un-rivalled leading try scorer this year.
Although his counterpart from the Storm can not match that area of Stewart's game, Slater has enough firepower of his own to convince the Kangaroos his the man.
Slater was indeed the fullback for Australia in the Anzac test earlier this year, where the Kangaroos emerged victorious.
Also helping Slater's cause is his form this season, coming within a whisker of claiming the Dally M player of the year award from the clutches of Sea Eagles half Matt Orford.
Only a lack of discipline on Dragons winger Jason Nightingale cost him the game's premier individual honour.
Overall though, it seems Slater has one foot in the door in terms of Test selection.
He was apart of the series winning QLD Origin side this season and has also won a Premiership.
In matches against Stewart, Slater has emerged victorious in three of the past four meetings.
All those stats though will count for little come the Grand final kick-off.
That's why the result of the NRL decider is crucial in determining the open spot at Fullback for Australia.
No doubt the custodian partying the longest at the end of the week will have the inside running on the Kangaroos no.1 position at World Cup time.
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