Billy Slater didn't need a career night on the Gold Coast to convince his coach he is retiring too soon.
But Craig Bellamy isn't about to try and talk the Melbourne fullback out of hanging up the boots, saying the stubborn champion had made a habit of making every decision the right one throughout his career.
Slater, in his last NRL game in Queensland, ran for 289 metres in the defending champion's comeback 10-8 defeat of the Titans to sew up a top-four spot with a round remaining.
The 35-year-old will call it a day at the end of the season and, like it or not, Bellamy has learnt to accept it.
"I thought right from when he was thinking about the decision that he's still got plenty in him," the coach said.
"The one thing about Billy Slater is, when he does make a decision - and I think throughout his career he probably has made some not-the-right decisions - he's that bloody stubborn he makes it the right decision.
"So whatever he goes on to next year he'll make that decision the right decision."
Meanwhile, Storm captain Cameron Smith, who racked up 44 tackles, said he was never too concerned about missing the clash despite being hampered by a back complaint.
"It was (important to be a part of Slater's Queensland farewell) and although we haven't spoken about it too much we're certainly aware of that," he said.
"Bill's career, the days are numbered now aren't they?"
The Storm were without injured pair Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Suliasi Vunivalu and the suspended Will Chambers but did enough to overturn an 8-0 halftime deficit.
"With personnel missing it was a terrific job to get the win," Smith said.
"The Titans, they're a good footy side when they've got their fair share of the ball."
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