With his bucket of Red Rooster on order, north Queensland MP Bob Katter has sent a message of support to Innisfail’s favourite son ahead of Sunday’s NRL grand final.
Describing Billy Slater as ranked beside Johnathan Thurston, Wally Lewis and Cam Smith as the greatest ever to play rugby league, he’s hoping Slater will get a fairytale finish to a spectacular rugby league career when the Melbourne Storm take on the Sydney Roosters on Sunday evening.
“Anyone who watched the semi finals would not hesitate for a moment to say that Slater is easily the most dominant player in the NRL,” the Kennedy MP said.
“A heart as big as a lion’s that resides in people like Billy Slater, the determination of a tiger, the athletic skills and all those rare qualities that make people winners are all on display there with Billy.
“He’s not just the best fullback in Australia – he’d have to be up there with being the best fullback that’s ever played the game.
“Shane Knuth and I had our photograph taken last year at the ‘100 years of League’ dinner in Innisfail with Lionel Williamson, Kerry Boustead and Billy Slater and I thought at the time – can a man on the planet ask for more?”
When asked to predict a score, Bob said that if Roosters’ halfback, Cooper Cronk succumbed to his rotator cuff injury, the Storm should win by 20 points.
Well and truly licking his lips in anticipation of Sunday’s clash, Bob described rugby league as “the most exciting game that has ever been invented by humans and it just grows from strength to strength”.
He’ll be hoping that by the end of the game he’ll be licking his fingers and Billy Slater will be wearing a premiership ring.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
