’Too small’ Slater an all-round giant killer
Origin legend could have excelled in any sport he turned his hand to
WHICH moment from Billy Slater’s career sums him up best in your eyes?
If you’re like most people, the first image that comes to your mind is that incredible try he scored as a young kid on the wing for Queensland in 2004.
It is still considered one of the greatest tries in Origin history.
In just his second Origin game, and still only 20 years of age, Slater burst through to regather a kick from Darren Lockyer.
He then accelerated towards NSW fullback Anthony Minichiello, audaciously chip-kicked over his opponent’s head in the opposite direction, and then won the race to the ball to score the try with a perfectly timed dive.
It was like seeing a preview trailer for the next 14 years of Slater’s career.
There was the ability to read the game that had him in the right position to take advantage of Locky’s kick, the blinding speed to get to the ball, and the football instinct to see the chip-kick was the right option.
There was also the courage and confidence to back himself to deliver such an all-or-nothing play. And, of course, there was the unmatched skill to get it right.
It was Billy’s entire career compressed into nine seconds of brilliance.
As good as it was – and every Queensland would agree, it was unbelievably good – I don’t know if it did the job of summing him up completely.
A left-field suggestion might be his appearance on a TV show.
In 2009, Billy was one of the all-star contestants on a sporting game show called Australia’s Greatest Athlete.
It took a selection of elite athletes from a host of sports, and made them compete in challenges as varied as golf, cricket, rugby league, AFL, bench press and rock climbing to see who was Australia’s best all-round sportsman.
In the first season, Billy was up against incredible athletes like Ky Hurst, Jamie Whincup, Andrew Symonds, Lote Tuqiri and Olympian Steve Hooker.
Every athlete won at least one challenge. Billy finished on the podium 11 times out of 15 events, and won the competition by 300 points.
He then backed up the next year and won the second series as well.
What that showed to me was that he could have been a star in any sport of his choosing because of his competitiveness, preparation and dedication. His teammates will tell you it was these qualities that made him so great.
In every game he played, Billy did his homework.
Billy was not spotted as a teenage prodigy and groomed for stardom.
He was told he was too small to make it and he should quit while he was ahead.