Billy Slater

Billy Slater
Slater playing for the Melbourne Storm in 2008
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Slater
Born (1983-06-18) 18 June 1983
Nambour, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight88 kg (194 lb; 13 st 12 lb)
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003–18 Melbourne Storm 323 191 0 0 764
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2004–18 Queensland 31 12 0 0 48
2008–17 Australia 30 27 0 0 108
Coaching information
Representative
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2022 Queensland 11 6 0 5 55
Source:

William Slater (born 18 June 1983) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. Slater is the current coach of the Queensland Maroons, whom he coached to victories in the 2022 and 2023 State of Origin series. Widely regarded as the greatest fullback of all time, Slater was known for his incredible vision, game reading, and try-scoring feats.

An Australian international and one-time captain of the Queensland State of Origin team, he played his entire club career in the National Rugby League (NRL) for the Melbourne Storm, with whom he played in seven NRL Grand Finals. Slater also set the club's record for most ever tries and NRL record for most ever tries by a fullback.

Slater amassed 190 NRL tries for the Melbourne Storm, which is the third most in Australian first-grade rugby league history. Slater also won two premierships, the Clive Churchill Medal twice and the Dally M Medal with the Storm. With the Kangaroos he was the 2008 World Cup's top try-scorer and player of the tournament and won the 2008 Golden Boot Award as the World player of the year. Slater was also the winner of the television game show Australia's Greatest Athlete in 2009 and 2010.