THE Melbourne Storm will begin educating their players on mental illness matters after star fullback Billy Slater admitted he had overstepped the mark in his sledging of Newcastle forward Cory Paterson, who suffers depression.
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Slater, who issued a second statement in as many days yesterday, has escaped sanction from his club for the on-field comments that enraged Paterson and set off a running battle between the two during the Storm's 20-14 come-from-behind win last Saturday night.
The Age believes Slater told Paterson, who missed most of last season after revealing that he had been diagnosed with clinical depression and, at his lowest points had suicidal thoughts, to "go to your room and have a cry".
The Test No.1, who was later picked up on the on-field microphones saying "he can give it but he can't take it", said yesterday he understood that depression was a serious health matter and apologised for his comment.
"I accept that in the heat of the moment on Saturday night, I overstepped the mark with a flippant comment I directed at Cory Paterson," Slater said in the statement.
"What was said was insensitive given what Cory has been through over the past 18 months.
"I called Cory yesterday afternoon to clear the air and he assured me that there was no ill feeling between us. He accepted my sincerest apology and asked that we leave the issue alone.
"It would be insensitive to Cory to repeat what was said. The simple fact of the matter is I made an error of judgement in the heat of the moment and I intend to learn from this."
Acting Storm chief executive Matt Hanson said the club would seek the advice to help educate their players.
No action was taken after Paterson made it clear he did not want the matter to go further, but the Herald understands that Slater would have faced a fine or suspension from the NRL if he had not issued a second apology in as many days.
ABC Radio commentator and sports reporter Craig Hamilton, an ambassador for the beyondblue organisation, said Slater had shown contrition for his lack of sensitivity, would learn from his "mistake" and should face no further sanction.
"I said at the time, it was a very courageous thing for Cory to do in going public in his battle with depression while he's still playing because that was always going to draw attention to himself and possibly make his road to recovery that much harder," said Hamilton, who sat alongside Paterson when the Indigenous All Stars forward announced last April that he was suffering a mental illness.
"For another player to make light of it is not helpful for the ongoing process of education and awareness and, more importantly, the reduction of stigma in the community around this issue.
"I can understand in the heat of battle that blokes say things that they might regret later in the cold, hard light of day, and I think there's no question that Billy Slater has shown genuine contrition over what he said.
"He's apologised, and that's as as far as it should go as far as sanctions go in my view. He knows he's made a mistake and he'll learn from it.
"The fact that the issue has flared up in a game and Cory has dealt with it on the field by saying, 'Mate, that's unacceptable,' it's another opportunity for everyone involved in the game and anyone who follows the game to just get another gentle reminder that this is an issue.
"It's an issue not only in rugby league but it's an issue in the community and we need to face that."
