League: Billy Slater sets his sights on next season's nines

Storm star Billy Slater believes his game is well-suited to nines. Photo / Getty

One of the NRL's greatest players could make a surprise appearance at the 2016 NRL Nines.

Billy Slater won't be in action today against the Warriors but has targeted next year's event at Eden Park for his comeback from a long-term shoulder injury. The Storm fullback had surgery last month on his shoulder, which had earlier forced him to miss a month of the season, including the Anzac test.

However, he plans to be part of the Melbourne side at the third running of the annual Auckland event.

It would be something of a surprise, as the Storm's Big Three of Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk have traditionally avoided the tournament, and Melbourne have typically fielded one of the event's weaker teams. But Slater is adamant he wants to be part of it.

"I've always wanted to play a nines tournament because I know it would suit my style of play," said Slater. "I've always watched the tournament and it looks a great weekend. But we usually have so much football in a calendar year that it's difficult. This time I won't have had a footy game for more than seven months by the time the nines rolls around."

Slater said the 2013 World Cup precluded his participation in the inaugural Auckland Nines and he skipped this year's tournament as he was recovering from an injury that saw him miss the 2014 Four Nations.

Slater reported that his recent surgery had gone "extremely well" and added that playing in the two-day event would break up "what is otherwise going to be a very long and tedious pre-season".

His club support the plan. It provides a clear indication that he intends to re-sign - Slater is off contract at the end of this season - and the unlimited substitutions at the nines mean he could be carefully managed.

"I will be 100 per cent guided by the advice of our medical team," said Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy. "It makes sense why Billy wants to play [the nines] but ultimately they'll decide whether he takes the field."

Slater's presence would be a huge boost for the event.

The 32-year-old has scored more NRL tries than any other current player, and his figure of 172 is topped only by Ken Irvine (212) and Steve Menzies (180). Slater was a try-scoring freak in his early years - he scored 53 in his first 69 games - and his ratio after more than 270 games is still 0.62 a match.

The former jockey's apprentice has also played 25 tests for the Kangaroos, his absence from the last three transtasman clashes seen as key to Australia's demise. Slater has also made 27 appearances for Queensland and was part of the Maroons squad who won eight consecutive Origin series during 2006-13.