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Storm star Billy Slater almost cleared for shock return

Melbourne Storm star Billy Slater was almost cleared to make an unlikely return from injury in the NRL finals series.

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Slater, 33, underwent surgery on his shoulder in March, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

But the full-back was pushing for a return, with the Storm facing the Cronulla Sharks in the grand final on Sunday.

Storm football director Frank Ponissi confirmed Slater was close to a surprise comeback.

"He was feeling great within himself, he started training and he just decided to ask the question then [in August]," he told SEN.

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"The surgeon gave him a glowing report on how he was going, but probably stopped short of giving him the green light to play in September this year.

"It certainly would have been a very nice selection dilemma for [Storm coach] Craig Bellamy to have going into a finals series."

Even without Slater, the Storm have reached the decider, with the Sharks awaiting them at ANZ Stadium.

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