- Billy Slater announced he will retire from State of Origin after this year’s series
- The 34-year-old rugby league legend unsure if he will continue in NRL next year
- Joins Johnathon Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith in stepping down
Billy Slater has announced he will join the rest of Queensland’s ‘Big Four’ in retirement at the end of this year’s State of Origin series.
Slater, who has played 29 times for the Maroons, will follow fellow greats Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith in bowing out of representative football.
The 34-year-old fullback isn’t sure if he will continue playing in the NRL for the Melbourne Storm next year but ‘it just feels like time’ to call an end to his Origin career.
Billy Slater has announced he will join the rest of Queensland’s ‘Big Four’ in retirement at the end of this year’s State of Origin series
Slater will follow fellow greats Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith in bowing out of representative football (pictured with wife Nicole)
The 34-year-old fullback isn’t sure if he will continue playing in the NRL for the Melbourne Storm next year but ‘it just feels like time’ to call an end to his Origin career
‘It’s been a great ride,’ Slater said at a packed press conference flanked by coach Kevin Walters.
‘If you asked me as a little boy what I wanted to do and it was play for Queensland and Australia and be like Allan Langer.
‘I was able to fulfil a childhood dream.’
Slater’s looming departure confirms the end of an era for Queensland but he said his decision wasn’t influenced by Thurston, Cronk or Smith opting to step away.
Slater made his Origin debut in 2004 and has been a major cog in the all-conquering Maroons machine that has taken out 11 of the last 12 series.
Slater’s looming departure confirms the end of an era for Queensland
Slater made his Origin debut in 2004 and has been a major cog in the all-conquering Maroons machine that has taken out 11 of the last 12 series (pictured with wife Nicole)
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