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http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5939594630

HE arrived in Melbourne eight years ago with just a suitcase.

Now Test fullback Billy Slater is in the midst of penning a new $1 million deal that will keep him at the Storm for life.

On the eve of the Four Nations campaign, The NRL's most marketable player has declared he's going nowhere, a massive boost to the Melbourne Storm as they aim to rebuild their tarnished brand.

Already contracted to the Storm until 2012, Slater and his manager George Mimis have begun contract talks with chief executive Ron Gauci, with the aim of extending his tenure for a further three seasons.

It's a position that seemed impossible at the height of the Storm salary cap scandal only eight months ago.

"But what happened over the last few months has only enhanced the camaraderie of the place," Slater said.

"When things aren't going so well, it's easier for everyone to take their own direction, but the club is just so strong."

Slater's story is a good one.

He began playing rugby league for the Brothers Club in Innisfail in far north Queensland when he was four.

At 15, he'd had enough of the game and turned to life as a trackwork jockey, going on to work with Gai Waterhouse in Sydney.

But eventually his love of rugby league lured him back.

In 2001, he drove 20 hours to Brisbane for a trial with the North Devils, which was then a feeder club for the Melbourne Storm.

Later that day he signed his first NRL contract.

"I went down there as a 19-year-old kid. I was single, I had a suitcase - that's all I had," Slater said.

"Now I've got a house, a beautiful wife and two kids.

"I've grown a lot since I've gone down there. Melbourne's home for me now.

"You always weigh up your options and your opportunities when you sit down and start thinking about negotiating a new contract.

"But that's the place for me and if we could do a deal until the end of my career, I would be very proud to be a one-club man.

"I have been involved with the club for nearly 10 years now.

"It's a place that's given me an opportunity to fulfil my dreams and a chance for me now to finish my career at the place where it all started."

sallymay wrote:love him......never thought he would leave but im currently more worried about cooper

glennb wrote:Why would you want Thurston for Cronk. Thurston is a fool and also I think Cronk is a much better player than Thurston.

Source was friend from Bowen

sallymay wrote:love him......never thought he would leave but im currently more worried about cooper

JAMIE wrote:Just wait for it - And you can be guarenteed it will all be in News Ltd papers.