This is my last season, says Slater
Melbourne legend Billy Slater has announced his retirement from rugby league with the current NRL season to be his last.
The 35-year-old fullback confirmed he’s hanging up the boots at season’s end yesterday at a packed press conference in Melbourne, ending months of speculation about his playing future.
The Storm had hoped Slater would play on for another season but the former Queensland and Australia star has decided to call time on his 16-year career.
Speculation surrounding Slater’s future has been building for some time and he appeared to be edging towards walking away after retiring from representative football following this year’s State of Origin series.
The news comes as fellow Storm legend, skipper Cameron Smith, also weighs up his future with the club confirming on Tuesday that they have tabled him a one-year deal.
Since making his debut with Melbourne in 2003, Slater has established himself as one of the best fullbacks the sport has seen.
In 313 games for the Storm he has scored 187 tries – second most in NRL history behind Ken Irvine – winning two grand finals, a Dally M Medal and two Clive Churchill Medals.
Slater made 31 appearances for Queensland and played a key role in their decade-long dominance over NSW. And while he bowed out of State of Origin this year on a losing note he still finished with the player of the series award. Slater also played 30 tests for the Kangaroos, including two World Cup triumphs in 2013 and 2017.
His career appeared to be over in 2016 due to a chronic shoulder injury but he battled back to help the Storm to the premiership last year. And they are well placed to give him a fairytale finish, sitting second on the table with four games left in the regular season.