Champion fullback Billy Slater has been cleared to play in Sunday’s NRL grand final against the Sydney Roosters after he successfully appealed a grade-one shoulder charge.

The Melbourne Storm star was sanctioned for a hit on Cronulla Sharks winger Sosai Feki, a move that threatened his hopes of ending his remarkable career in a grand final.

After deliberating for almost an hour on Tuesday night, the NRL Judiciary found Billy Slater wasn’t guilty of the shoulder charge and cleared him to play.

Former Sydney Roosters skipper Luke Ricketson knows exactly what it’s like to front the judiciary.

But the news he received in 2004 wasn’t as uplifting as what Slater received this week.

Ricketson missed the NRL grand final that year after his appeal to have a striking charge downgraded failed.

“You go and see your team play on the weekend, it’s heartbreaking,” he tells Chris Smith.

“It was probably the lowlight of my career.”

Click PLAY below for the full interview

When it comes to Billy Slater’s successful appeal, Ricketson says he was surprised by the judiciary’s decision.

“[The judiciary] actually said that there was no shoulder involved in that tackle… I’m dumbfounded.”

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