Final frontier for Slater and Smith
RUGBY league greats Billy Slater and Cameron Smith have achieved plenty in their careers but winning a World Cup on home soil is one feat that eludes them.
The duo are the only players in this year’s Kangaroos squad who were part of the 2008 team which suffered a shock loss to the Kiwis in the World Cup final in Brisbane.
Slater would not be drawn on his feelings over the 2008 loss but said Australia’s 2013 victory was spurring him on.
“Playing in a World Cup is very special,” Slater said.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play in three.
“The memory of winning the 2013 World Cup over at Old Trafford is probably one of the highlights of my career.
“It’s a very special moment and hopefully we can replicate that performance that we put in over there.
“We’re playing for the Kangaroos. We’ve got a responsibility to play well, we have a responsibility to uphold the performance in that jersey.
“We’ve come here to win the World Cup. We didn’t come here to run second.”