Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy can't say for sure whether Billy Slater will play NRL again after a second season-ending shoulder surgery in as many years.
The Kangaroos and Queensland fullback turns 33 later this year and Bellamy is aware a tough decision may have to be made.
"I don't want to really think about that and I'm sure Billy doesn't," Bellamy told Australia radio station Triple M.
"It will be [dependent] on how the operation has gone this time and how he goes in his rehab and recovery.
"I think he will need to sit back and take a few breaths and do the best rehab that we can and go from there.
"I think in Billy's mind, just talking to him, he doesn't want to finish like this.
"If there's any chance he can get back and it's not going to jeopardise his future shoulder-wise so he can lead a normal life after footy, then I'd like to think that he'll go out on a better note than this."
The Storm head across the Tasman to take on the Warriors at Mount Smart on Sunday.
Newshub.