Billy Slater

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Born
Saturday, 18th June, 1983
Current Age
40 years and 275 days
Place Of Birth
Nambour, Queensland, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Peter Frilingos Memorial - Headline Moment of the Year
2004
Dally M Fullback Of The Year
2008, 2011, 2017
Golden Boot Award
2008
RLIF Fullback Of The Year
2008, 2011
RLIF Player Of The Year
2008, 2011
RLW Player of the Year
2008
Clive Churchill Medal
2009, 2017
Dally M Representative Player Of The Year
2010
Wally Lewis Medal
2010, 2018
Dally M Player Of The Year
2011
Ron McAuliffe Medal
2018

Biography

Exciting Queensland winger, originally from Innisfail, came to Sydney as a trackwork rider for leading horse trainer Gai Waterhouse before a growth spurt led him back to his first sporting vocation – rugby league. Slater drove to Melbourne in search of a trial with the Storm and played in every match of the 2003 season. Equally adept at fullback or centre, he scored 19 tries in his first season and would have been favourite to win the ‘Rookie of the Year’ Award had the ‘Dally M’ Awards not been cancelled because of the players’ dispute with the NRL. In 2004 Slater burst onto the representative scene with selection for the Queensland State of Origin team. In the second match of the series he scored one of the greatest tries in Origin history when he pounced on a Darren Lockyer kick, changed direction towards NSW fullback Anthony Minichiello and kicked the ball over his head, re-gathered and scored. It was a freakish effort by Slater, who celebrated his 21st birthday two nights after Queensland’s 22-18 win, and he cemented his place as one of the brightest prospects in the game with a spectacular 100m try against the Bulldogs three weeks later. However, a groin injury dimmed his considerable talents towards the end of the year and ruled out any chance of Australian Test selection. Slater represented the Maroons again in 2005 but injury, and a lengthy suspension for a high tackle in 2006, kept him out of the rep teams in Melbourne’s minor premiership-winning season.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NRL 319 190 -   - 760 224 93 2 70.22% List
NRL Finals 32 23 -   - 92 22 10 0 68.75% List
State of Origin 31 12 -   - 48 19 12 0 61.29% List
World Club Challenge 4 1 -   - 4 3 1 0 75.00% List
Anzac Tests 7 3 -   - 12 7 0 0 100.00% List
World Cup 13 16 -   - 64 12 1 0 92.31% List
Four Nations 8 8 -   - 32 6 1 1 75.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 2008-14, 2017 30 27 -   - 108 27 2 1 90.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 2008, 2013, 2017 13 16 -   - 64 12 1 0 92.31% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
QLD 2004-05, 2008-15, 2017-18 31 12 -   - 48 19 12 0 61.29% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Melbourne NRL 2003 26 19 -   - 76 16 10 0 61.54% List
Melbourne NRL 2004 22 14 -   - 56 12 10 0 54.55% List
Melbourne NRL 2005 21 20 -   - 80 12 9 0 57.14% List
Melbourne NRL 2006 15 5 -   - 20 12 3 0 80.00% List
Melbourne NRL 2007 23 12 -   - 48 20 3 0 86.96% List
Melbourne NRL 2008 24 14 -   - 56 19 5 0 79.17% List
Melbourne NRL 2009 26 18 -   - 72 16 9 1 61.54% List
Melbourne NRL 2010 22 10 -   - 40 13 9 0 59.09% List
Melbourne NRL 2011 24 12 -   - 48 19 5 0 79.17% List
Melbourne NRL 2012 21 16 -   - 64 19 2 0 90.48% List
Melbourne NRL 2013 24 18 -   - 72 16 7 1 66.67% List
Melbourne NRL 2014 22 12 -   - 48 13 9 0 59.09% List
Melbourne NRL 2015 7 2 -   - 8 5 2 0 71.43% List
Melbourne NRL 2016 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Melbourne NRL 2017 21 11 -   - 44 19 2 0 90.48% List
Melbourne NRL 2018 20 7 -   - 28 12 8 0 60.00% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Melbourne 2003-18 319 190 -   - 760 224 93 2 70.22% List

Your Say

  • Anonymous
    06/12/2011

    It's been a pleasure watching a guy like Billy play in my lifetime.

  • Darren May
    05/08/2013

    A true legend of the game.

  • Imastormtrooper2
    28/10/2013

    Billy drove from Innisfail to Brisbane with his cousin to trial for Norths RLFC - which at the time was the Melbourne Storm affiliation team ... It was at Norths that he met and played along side Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk ... Smith went to the Storm in 2002, Slater in 2003 and Cronk in 2004 ...

  • Manu
    02/12/2013

    Billy Slater is by far the best fullback in the game over a number of years. Its a pleasure watching him play. What a talent!

  • Anonymous
    16/08/2015

    billy slater is the best fullback in the game ever.!!! ultra consistent 100% effort every game he plays

  • Anonymous
    18/04/2016

    what can u say or add to about a champion of champions...

  • Kad Wallis
    21/09/2016

    I have been a fan of RL for over 60 years and Billy is the best fullback I have seen in my lifetime.
    He has changed the way fullbacks now play and has set the bar very high and has shown the young players of today what is possible both in attack and defence

  • Waynemorrell
    22/07/2017

    The best fullback of all time he will be missed when he retires hopefully we will see him for one more season.

  • Flvr
    15/10/2017

    By far the most extraordinarily gifted fullback I have had the pleasure of watching. 2nd to none as a runner of the ball from the backfield, passes like a half and chimes into an attacking backline perfectly. Very safe under the high ball, postional sense on defense is 2nd to none as is his communication and marshalling of his defensive line. Would not be surprised to see him annointed as an immortal in the next 20 years. Thank you Billy.

  • AJW
    04/03/2018

    I’ve been watching league since I can remember and have witnessed some awesome fullbacks. Guys like Eadie, Jack and Belcher and others, but Billy Slater is in a class of his own. It’s hard comparing players of different generations, particularly from ones I didn’t witness, but he’s the best Fullback I’ve seen in my 40 odd years!!

  • John McK. - Brisbane
    13/05/2018

    I regard Billie Slater as the best talent and best ambassador of any sport in Australia. There would be many young admirers playing Rugby League today because of his example.

  • Rhys
    05/09/2018

    Last season for a legend, the league is gonna miss him. So many great games (4 tries v Manly etc)...

  • Steve
    18/11/2019

    Best player I have ever seen. For a small fullback was tough and changed the way fullbacks play. I hope immortal status follows one day.

  • Billy Slater
    10/08/2020

    thanks for all the brothers and sister about what what you say about me. and I am the best to ever play.

  • Debra
    23/04/2021

    Grew upon Neetown and followed the Bluebags as they were knownthen. From the times I have watch league there has never been a better fullback than Billy. Exciting spontaneous and plays with instinct. It will take many years for the class of Billyt tibe outshone.

  • Anonymous
    17/09/2021

    tommy turbo is way better than billy slater

  • ray
    20/10/2021

    billy is with the best full you will ever sean as he will go as one off melbourne greats player to play the game go bill

  • [email protected]
    27/12/2023

    Hi

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Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Greg Fiveash, Paul Carter, Bill Bates, Alan Katzmann, AJ Lucantonio, Max Turner, Darren Andrews

Sources: NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2004, NRL 2004 Official Rugby League Annual, 2006 Official Rugby League Annual