Bears champion stunned by Billy but still backing the ‘Boys’
THE footballer who inspired champion fullback Billy Slater believes his former Burleigh coach’s words ring true for the hopes of all Cowboys fans.
Reggie Cressbrook easily holds the record for the most Queensland Cup points scored by a Bears player, with 964. But before his two stints of Burleigh success – totalling two premierships and four grand final appearances – Cressbrook was an inaugural North Queensland player.
Despite his relatively low profile, playing only 34 first grade matches across three seasons, his impact was enough to spur on the kid who would become the greatest fullback of the modern era.
Cressbrook’s evasiveness caught the eye of a young Innisfail product in Slater who described him as “the kind of player I saw myself becoming”.
“Lost for words,” Cressbrook told the Bulletin of his reaction upon learning that.
“I felt proud … he has pretty much accomplished everything you can in rugby league and to hear that coming from a bloke of such stature, that was amazing.”
Ironically, Slater could now be the man standing in the way of the Cowboys, who Cressbrook supports, winning their second premiership.
“I sort of had a feeling that if they made the finals they would give it a shake,” Cressbrook said of the Cowboys.