REMEMBER WHEN

Thursday, June 17, 2004

QUEENSLAND’S speeding silver bullet, Billy “The Kid” Slater, blew away NSW hopes at Suncorp Stadium.

Slater, from Innisfail, became an instant hero by scoring one of the great Origin tries as the Maroons levelled the series with a thrilling 22-18 win.

The Kid, who turned 21 the next day, turned the game with his 62nd minute masterpiece.

With Queensland behind on the scoreboard, he flew on to a Darren Lockyer grubber kick on halfway, picked up the ball on the run, held it on hand as he swayed to the right, then kicked back to the left over the head of the last defender.

He finished the movement by regaining the ball and diving over the line on one motion.

The huge crowd held its breath as the video referee pored over replays to see if Slater was onside. He was – by a blade of grass.

When the green light flashed, the record crowd of 52,478 went berserk and another chapter was added to Origin folklore.

Slater and the try dominated post-match discussion in both the Queensland and NSW dressing rooms.

The consensus on the play that turned an epic State of Origin struggle Queensland’s way with almost 17 minutes remaining in the match was unanimous – “brilliant”.

Maroons coach Michael Hagan led the chorus of plaudits on the man and the try that secured the Maroons a 22-18 victory.

“That try was basically brilliant,’’ said Hagan.

“What he had to do and how he got to the line ... I don’t think you can coach that.”