Billy Slater - The Legend Of Billy The Kid!

AS Melbourne Storm thrashed Gold Coast in Round 2, a seasoned Brisbane journalist couldn't hide his enthusiasm for AAMI Park, which he called the perfect place to watch rugby league.
And while he thought the attendance of 12,391 was "pretty good for Melbourne", it also made him pause.
Storm superstar fullback Billy Slater had just crossed for his 114th career try to break Matt Geyer's club record.

Slater dominated that match, as he did in Rounds 4, 5 and 6 in what has been a breathtaking start to the season. But at that history-making moment the stadium was at full voice but really only half full.
"I wonder if the people that aren't here know what they're missing," the visiting scribe said.
"They get to see one of the best that has ever played the game every other week. I hope they know that."
For those that don't know, Slater is that good, as good as there has ever been in fact, and some knowledgeable rugby league types couldn't have been more glowing in their praise for the 27-year-old who, having signed a new contract, should play out his career in Melbourne.
The man who wrote the book on Dally Messenger, rugby league's revered "Little Master", put Slater in elite company by comparing him to the NRL immortal.
"Like Dally, Slater always seems to turn up in the right place at precisely the wrong time for his opponents," league historian Sean Fagan said.

"Both were excellent individualists who could take a game by the scruff of the neck themselves, but also knew that combining with their teammates was equally important and profitable for victory.
"But what I like about Slater, that was similar to Dally, was that sometimes their efforts all turned to mud -- like in the 2008 World Cup final (when an errant Slater pass resulted in the game-winning try for the Kiwis) -- and they don't let that failure on the big stage define the rest of their game or career.
And like Dally, Slater is often maligned by fans of other clubs -- a sure sign that he is seen as the man making the difference between winning and losing."
Slater's elevation to the greats is a long rise from his days as "Billy the Pest", a tag given to the youngster by Vince O'Brien, a long-time servant of the Innisfail Brothers club.

He watched a cheeky young buck play junior footy and once got involved in a game of touch with his family.
"And he wouldn't get out of the road. He wanted to be in the ruck, then back at second receiver, run the ball, make the kicks. He wanted to do everything," O'Brien said.
"It's a trait of the greats, they want to be in the action all the time."
O'Brien was the man who received a letter from proud local Kevin Barry in 2008 who suggested the local sports oval should bear the name of Innisfail's most famous football son.
"It went to council and was ratified, so we named the main oval at Callendar Park the Billy Slater Oval. He would have only been maybe 26 when we did that, so it's not bad for a player still with plenty to give," O'Brien said.

It's an honour not even afforded to Brisbane captain Darren Lockyer, who is considered a certainty to be named a rugby league immortal.
"We had a street parade for him back in 2004 as well after he scored 'that' try for Queensland in his first State-of-Origin series," O'Brien said. "It was the first time we had a parade like that for a sports star."
The try O'Brien referred to remains one of the best Origin has seen. Slater, in just his second game for the Maroons, produced a chip-and-chase try that propelled him to stardom.
His efforts moved veteran Channel 9 commentator Ray Warren to label the 20-year-old "Billy the Kid". Warren has called all the greats, and seen plenty more, but rates Slater his No.1 fullback.
"I often said he was the busiest I have ever seen. Now I am sure he is the best I have ever seen," Warren said.
"I didn't see Dally or Clive Churchill, and with all due respect to other greats I did see, I have no hesitation saying he's the best fullback I have ever seen."
League pundits know how good Slater is. Andrew Johns called him a "genius" during last week's win over Penrith -- but his talents were on show to a whole new audience when he twice blitzed a field of Australia's elite sporting talent to win the TV show Australia's Greatest Athlete.

Executive producer Pete Dempsey didn't get to choose Slater as one of his stars, the show's sponsors Rexona did, but he couldn't have been more impressed and said the Storm star had a confidence that wasn't arrogance, but let the other competitors, guns in their chosen sports, know he was there to beat them all, which he did.
"He's a freak. He just worked out everything in his head, protected his weaknesses, and went for broke on his strengths. He's a phenomenal athlete," Dempsey said.
"He was selected because he fitted the brand, was wholesome and well known. And he's humble; he never talked himself up, he just let his actions speak. But you knew he knew. Everyone there thought they were at the top of their tree and in the end they just had to take their hats off to him. He was too good."
With NRL poster boys Todd Carney, Jarryd Hayne and Benji Marshall battling a myriad of problems, Slater remains the ultimate cleanskin and it is baffling why he is not the face of the game.
He's certainly the face of Storm and Melbourne's kids club isn't called Cam's Cadets for skipper Cameron Smith or Cooper's Troopers for Cooper Cronk -- it's Billy's Buddies and they flock to him like seagulls to a chip.

His decision to recommit until 2014 was regarded as a win in more ways than one because the "come play with Billy" line is used as Melbourne looks to retain and then draw talent to the club.
"Players always ask you if Billy is staying," a Storm official said.
Aware of the bidding frenzy an off-contract Slater would create, extensions have always been locked away with 18 months of any deal remaining. Fortunately for Storm, the best player in the game has always wanted to stay and make his legend in Melbourne.
"There is Billy the player, who has just got better as the years go on, and then there is Billy the brand. When you go to NSW and especially Queensland, he is a phenomenon up there. It's unbelievable," the official said.
"We're very, very lucky he's ours." Melbourne Storm!!!!!!
(Written by Russell Gould, Herald Sun)

Billy Slater- Superstar!!!!!

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