NRL: Slater could be right for round one - Bellamy

Billy Slater. Photo / Getty Images

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says the early signs are good that Billy Slater will be fit to play in round one of the NRL in March.

The star fullback and international player of the year suffered a broken collarbone during Australia's successful Four Nations campaign last month in England.

Slater and Storm's other key playmakers, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, are set to resume training on January 9.

The bulk of the squad will return from their Christmas break on January 2.

"He (Slater) has gone to Cairns for Christmas. He came in a couple of times before that," Bellamy said on Tuesday.

"He said the shoulder was feeling pretty good, the collar bone.

"They're reasonably happy with the way it's coming on, but it was a bad break so it will take a little time to get better again.

"Until he comes back and actually starts getting into a bit of training, we won't quite know how the body's adapting to that operation.

"We're very hopeful and we expect him to be right by March for for round one (against Canberra).

"He has got a great (fitness) base so it won't take him too long to get back into good condition again to play."

Bellamy is also hopeful high-profile Storm supporter and music industry veteran Molly Meldrum will make a full recovery following a fall at his Melbourne home on Thursday.

Meldrum remains in an induced coma but his sedation levels were reduced overnight.

"It has been a pretty sombre club around here since Thursday night since we heard," Bellamy said.

"It sounds as though Molly is starting to come good and we're just so happy about that. We wish him all the best.

"He's just such an important person to our club.

"He goes out of his way to make sure he comes down after games, whether we've won or lost, to help lift the spirits when we've lost and to celebrate with us when we win.
"He's just such a great personality to have around."

- AAP