Storm star compared to Immortal Churchill
THE footy-loving widow of Immortal Clive Churchill has compared Melbourne’s superstar fullback Billy Slater to her late husband, declaring: “When I go and see Billy play, I think it’s Clive.”
The much-loved Joyce Churchill said she relished watching the Storm custodian, who scored two tries in MelBILLY bourne’s 30-0 preliminary final win over Brisbane.
Slater’s double took his career tally to 182 tries – second in Australian rugby league history behind the great Ken Irvine, who an incredible 212 times.
Slater is $6 with Ubet to win the Clive Churchill Medal for man-of-the-match honours on grand final day. Joyce still watches lot of rugby league and marvels at Slater, much like she did her beloved Clive.
“Billy is the second Clive Churchill, for sure. He is Clive all over again,” Joyce said.
“He makes tries, he scores tries. I think, ‘Well, that’s Clive’. Billy comes into the game like Clive did.
“He passes the ball the same. He doesn’t stand back.
“Billy is quick with his hands and reads the play. I have met Billy a few times and we have talked about this.
“He knows that I think he reminds me of Clive.”
Both players revolutionised the attacking role of fullbacks with their ball movement and ability to get involved in play.
There are also the physical similarities. At 178cm, Slater is slightly taller than Churchill was at 175cm.
Debate has raged about who has been rugby league’s best fullback since Churchill, who retired from South Sydney in 1958.
“I have been going to the football for years. I really do watch the fullbacks more than any other players,” Joyce said.
“I find that watching Billy is like watching Clive all over again.”