Maroons coach and Melbourne great Billy Slater will “100 per cent” coach the Storm at some point in the future, according to Phil Gould.
Slater has been approached by several NRL clubs since his Maroons tenure began, and even reportedly rejected a formal approach from the Eels after Brad Arthur was sacked.
That job went to Jason Ryles on a four-year deal, which leaves the Storm with a potential headache given he was considered the heir to Craig Bellamy‘s throne in Melbourne.
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Gould said Slater was unlikely to be the Storm’s answer in the short term.
“I think (the Storm) are happy to take a decade if that’s what it takes – I don’t think Billy’s got any intention of doing it anytime soon,” Gould said on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus.
Maroons coach Billy Slater in camp. NRL Images
“I don’t think he’s going to bow out of what he’s doing anytime soon, (but) I would guarantee 100 per cent at some stage of his life he’ll be Storm coach.
“But it might not happen for about 10 years – he’s still a young man.”
Slater and wife Nicole have started a thoroughbred horse breeding business. They also have two pre-teen children, Jake and Tyla.
He currently balances his Queensland Origin commitments with that as a commentator and analyst for Nine.
Gould said it’s a lifestyle Slater would unlikely want to change right now – which is what Slater has said repeatedly when asked about desires to be an NRL coach.
“He is at a position in his life where he’s got a young family, he’s got great interest outside of rugby league … he loves that sort of lifestyle.
“He’s got the two best jobs in the world – he’s working at Channel Nine and he’s coaching the Queensland Origin team.
“It’s probably not on Billy’s radar at the moment to actually devote himself full-time to a coaching gig.
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“I’m quite sure the Melbourne Storm would like that to happen, but I think they’re going to be very patient with it until it’s at the point in Billy’s life where he decides ‘OK, now that’s what I want to do’.”
Gould also shared a piece of advice he gave to friend and former colleague, Eels legend-turned commentator Peter Sterling.
“Years and years ago … Peter Sterling said to me ‘I’ve been sort of approached about coaching, what do you think?’.
“I said ‘you’ve got the best job in Australia now’. I said ‘you can sit up here and coach all 16 teams, do you want to give away what you’ve got to coach one?’.
“I’ve got no doubt he could have done it, but he had a great job and he had a great career and it served him well.”
Gould shared a piece of advice he once gave former Nine colleague Peter Sterling. Getty
He said it was a similar conundrum Slater faces.
“Coaching Queensland (is) the biggest and best job in Australia football-wise, and he’s working here at Channel Nine. Why would he want to change his life?
“He’s breeding horses, he’s got a young family, he’s able to get to their junior sport. He’s able to do all that at the moment – it all goes out the window if you want to be a head coach.
“People don’t understand the hours it takes and the sacrifice it takes, in Melbourne how much travel it takes.
“It’s a huge commitment.”