Queensland Maroons great Billy Slater will proudly return to his roots this weekend to feature in a milestone International Legends of League match in Innisfail.
As the current head coach of the Maroons, Slater has forged a reputation as one of the leading tacticians and mentors in the modern game.
However, things will be a little different this weekend, as Slater swaps his regular position in the coaches box for a return to the field with the Cassowary Coast Allstars.
“I’ve never really entertained the thought of playing again, and when I got this put in front of me, I just felt it was right,” Slater told Win News.
“I felt a responsibility to go back home and lace the boots up one more time.”
Slater will also join other local Cassowary Coast Allstar players in Scott Bolton and Ty Williams in Saturday’s clash against the Australian Legends at Callendar Park.
More than 5000 fans are expected to take in the action, which will include Australian legends Sam Thaiday, Ben Hannant, Cliff Lyons, James Tamou, Antonio Winterstein, Kevin Campion, Darren Smith and Kerry Boustead.
Boustead, who also hails from Innisfail, played in the first ever State of Origin game for Queensland and helped initiate the Legends of League concept back in 2003 with current event organiser Troy Byers.
Slater believes the presence of so many former NRL, Origin and Test players will inspire the next generation in the Far North.
“I remember when I was about 10 years old, the North Sydney Bears brought a trial game up to Innisfail and I think they played Manly,” Slater recalled in his Win News interview.
“I was a ball boy, and that’s a vivid memory of mine. It was the first time I had seen an NRL player, and now we get the opportunity to go and give back to the community.”
The February 21 game will be 100th Legends of League match.
