League: Melbourne Storm star Billy Slater unable to face NRL judiciary early

Melbourne fullback Billy Slater's judiciary hearing has been delayed until Tuesday night because the NRL were unable to find a legal counsel to prosecute.

The Storm wanted the NRL to bring the hearing forward to Monday night so Slater would know early in the week whether he would be free to play in Sunday's grand final against the Roosters at ANZ Stadium.

Their hopes were quashed however when the NRL couldn't find a legal representative to run the hearing, with their usual counsel Peter McGrath overseas and his back-up Anthony Lo Surdo, SC, also unavailable.

The NRL scrambled to find a replacement but came up empty meaning the Storm now have to wait until 8pm (NZT) Tuesday for the hearing to begin.

Sydney's Daily Telegraph report the decision has left Melbourne less than impressed.

Billy Slater is facing suspension for this challenge on Cronulla Sharks winger Sosaia Feki. Photo / Getty Images

McGrath is reportedly in Italy and alerted the NRL to his travel plans weeks ago.

Melbourne will now fly Slater up to Sydney tomorrow night after he was hit with a grade one charge for his apparent shoulder charge on Cronulla wing Sosaia Feki during Friday night's preliminary final at AAMI Park.

"We wanted it on Monday for the sake of everyone — the player, the club and the game itself," Storm football director Frank Ponissi told the Daily Telegraph.

"We are ready to go tonight if need be but we'll just have to wait.

"It would have been much better on Monday at six o'clock — for the player himself. He wants to get on with it because he wants to know whether he's playing or not. We expressed that to the NRL. It's very hard for him to prepare for a grand final until he knows.

"While we understand the situation, we want to get this over and done with and the game wants to get it over and done with. To be waiting basically four days after it happened … it's a long, long time but it is what it is."

The Daily Telegraph also report that Slater will be represented by Sydney lawyer Nick Ghabar.