WATCHED THEM GROW

QYou’ve seen some champion players come and go over the years. I suspect you love Billy Slater and Nate Myles, right. Who is your favourite?

AI wouldn’t like to split Nate and Billy. They are kids I have known since they were little. I have known Nate since he was seven weeks old. His mum Janet was a swim teacher and they were over at my place – we were all at Ivanhoes – and she had the other three kids in the pool and I was nursing Nate. Then Janet said: ‘OK, bring him over and get him in.’ So I took his little nappy off and we were having a splash. Then Janet said: ‘Now I want you to push him under the water to me.’ And I said I wasn’t pushing this little baby under the water. But if you know Janet, you do what she tells you. When he made his first State of Origin I said to him: ‘I’m glad I didn't drown you when you were seven weeks old.’ Nate is just a great guy and I’ve always followed whatever team he played for.

QWhat about Billy? I’m told you have a good story that you tell local kids if they are ever feeling a bit down and out?

AKids these days get worried if they haven’t been picked for Peninsula or haven’t made a rep team at 12 years of age – they think that’s the end of it. But Billy didn’t do any of that. He was just a hard worker. I remember Billy when he was a ball boy and following his dad Mop around. But Billy’s first love was horses, not rugby league. Once he got serious about footy he put the work in. Remember, he went down to Norths in Brisbane for a trial with his cousin. Billy ended up getting picked and his cousin didn’t. Hard work is everything.