Thurston, Cronk, Smith . . . and Slater
Billy Slater has announced he will join the rest of Queensland’s ‘Big Four’ in retirement at the end of this year’s State of Origin series.
Slater, who has played 29 times for the Maroons, will follow fellow greats Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith in bowing out of representative football.
The 34-year-old fullback isn’t sure if he will continue playing in the NRL for the Melbourne Storm next year but ‘‘it just feels like time’’ to call an end to his Origin career.
‘‘‘‘It’s been a great ride,’’ Slater said at a packed press conference yesterday flanked by coach Kevin Walters. ‘‘If you asked me as a little boy what I wanted to do, it was play for Queensland and Australia and be like Allan Langer. It’s fair to say that I have been able to fulfil that many times.’’
Slater’s looming departure confirms the end of an era for Queensland but he said his decision wasn’t influenced by Thurston, Cronk or Smith opting to step away. This year’s series begins in Melbourne on June 6.
‘‘It’s been on my mind for a while. I always thought his was going to be my last series,’’ Slater said.
‘‘I just feel it is time. I can’t really give you a legit answer to that [why walk away].’’
Slater was considered for the Maroons captaincy after Smith’s retirement but Queensland coach Kevin Walters eventually went with Greg Inglis.
Slater made his Origin debut in 2004 and has been a major cog in the all-conquering Maroons machine that has taken out 11 of the last 12 series.
‘‘Billy epitomises what State of Origin is all about. A boy from the bush to make it in the big smoke and turned the rugby league world upside down,’’ Walters said of Innisfail-bred Slater.
AAP Origin teams:
❚ New South Wales: James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Josh Addo-Carr, Latrell Mitchell, James Roberts, James Maloney, Nathan Cleary, Damien Cook, David Klemmer, Reagan CampbellGillard, Boyd Cordner (capt), Tyson Frizell, Jack de Belin. Interchange: Paul Vaughan, Jake Trbojevic, Angus Crichton, Tyrone Peachey. 18th man: Tariq Sims, 19th man: Nick Cotric.
❚ Queensland: Billy Slater, Valentine Holmes, Greg Inglis (capt), Will Chambers, Dane Gagai, Cameron Munster, Ben Hunt, Dylan Napa, Andrew McCullough, Jarrod Wallace, Gavin Cooper, Felise Kaufusi, Josh McGuire. Bench: Michael Morgan, Josh Papalii, Coen Hess, Jai Arrow.