Slater in his last State of Origin series
BRISBANE: 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 34yearold fullback is not 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.
‘‘I was able to fulfil a childhood dream.’’
Slater’s looming departure confirms the end of an era for Queensland, but he said his decision was not influenced by Thurston, Cronk or Smith opting to step away.
He made the bombshell retirement announcement before the series opener 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.
‘‘The decision was officially made probably last week.
‘‘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 still looked forward to playing a huge leadership role in a newlook Maroons side this year that has lost a total of 150 games of Origin experience.
Slater made his Origin debut in 2004 and has been a major cog in the allconquering 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 Slater.
‘‘He changed the way fullbacks play the game. And for Queensland to have a player like Slater in the team has been a dream.’’
Asked whether he felt the Maroons would ‘‘do it for Billy’’ this year, Slater said: ‘‘I want them to do it for Queensland, and for themselves.
‘‘We [Smith, Slater, Thurston, Cronk] have been in these moments and now it’s their turn.’’ — AAP