'Billy the kid' will learn from his mistakes
November 25th 2008 08:02
Billy Slater wants another shot at World Cup redemption. It’s something however, that he will have to wait another five seasons for, because the 2008 edition of the tournament didn’t go to script for the 25 year old excitement machine.
The international player of the year imploded in the final against the Kiwis on Saturday night.
Whether pressure or his free willing nature instigated his match turning play, Slater gifted Benji Marshall a try that changed the continuous forecast of international dominance cast by the Kangaroos.
It was in the second half where it all went wrong for the Storm fullback.
Although his world cup campaign had been brilliant as expected in the lead up to the final against New Zealand, one can understand why Slater would possess the confidence to do anything on the field, even in a world cup final.
When he gathered a Marshall kick with his usual flawless approach, Slater took it upon himself to immediately counter attack on the short hand side of the field.
'The brothers' junior tried to get past rugby league’s most damaging winger in Manu Vatuvei, who is by no means, a sloth in the Kiwi backline.
Unfortunately for Australia, over confidence in games can only get you so far and Slater was effectively punished.
He threw a suicide ball back into the field of play, when Vatuvei pushed him into touch, which was humbly accepted by Marshall and possibly international rugby league.
In such a critical moment of a critical match, many fullbacks would have opted for the safe option and headed in field to meet the defensive line.
Slater thought otherwise, and took an unnecessary risk in a significant part of the match that could haunt him for the rest of his career.
He is no certainty to be the fullback of the Kangaroos next world cup assault if the current stock of Australian custodians are anything to go by.
Slater will be pushing the wrong side of 29 years when the green and gold aim to regain their aura as the best test team on the planet.
Despite the winding road ahead for the Nambour born Queenslander, he has publicly vowed that his unique attacking instincts will not change.
While most fullbacks will go into their shells after producing such errors, Slater has shown enough this season to not let this latest setback affect his performances from here on in.
He is a strong character of the game with still much to learn about the priceless ability to take the necessary risks possible in pressure cooker matches.
But if there is one player capable of learning from their mistakes and dominating once again, it is Billy Slater.
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