What do you think?
Rate this book
Billy Slater Autobiography
During a long and decorated career with the Melbourne Storm, Queensland and Australia, Billy Slater has forged a reputation as not merely one of rugby league’s great fullbacks, but as one of the best players in the game’s long history. Slater’s story is that of a young country recruit with superb natural talent who rose quickly to the top level, playing with the Storm after just one pre-season in Melbourne and starring for Queensland during just his second season in the NRL. But inside the player who has scored so many audacious tries on the game’s biggest stages is a fierce competitive drive and a relentless work ethic, one inherited from parents who worked tirelessly to provide for their two children.In his fourteen years in the NRL, Slater has been confronted by the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal, career-threatening injuries, the disappointment of lost grand finals, his early axing from the Queensland team, a game-losing mistake with the Kangaroos and accusations about his allegedly rough style of play. Slater has emerged not merely as a great of the game, but as an even more resilient character, a respected spokesman for his sport, a devoted husband and father, and – in a moment of emotional vindication – a member of the Storm’s defiant 2012 premiership team. Billy’s story is told with contributions from Slater’s family, as well as other rugby league legends like Cooper Cronk, Craig Bellamy, Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith.
- GenresNonfiction
348 pages, Hardcover
First published August 28, 2017
21 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 14, 2017
Hhrmph. Meh. Waste of time. Just read my long review and you'll get the gist of it. He's a tough guy and very hard working! Yay!
Mostly written by Richard Hinds I assume. Apparently Billy reads (yet says Ryan Hoffman, a team mate and Blues Origin player is a bit of a nerd [but doesn't expand on why he says that]) and has written some kids books (or just licensed his name to appear on them) and yet he says school wasn't his thing and is somehow using what would appear to be a mixed bunch of words which might indicate some semblance of intelligence. Or awareness of what a thesaurus is.
For example sometimes the footy field is referred to as the track. OK so he likes horses and the race track. Other times it's field. No big deal, but it occurs for other words too. So it makes me suspicious that Billy wrote a single sentence in this book and just let sports journo Richard Hinds interview him and compile lots of written and visual media to piece this 'autobiography' together for him. After all Billy is a very busy boy. Always working so hard.
A few things standout to me as defensive and fallacious. A few incongruities too.
First the salary cap. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbour...
'I know nothink' - Sgt Schultz from 'Hogan's Heroes'...is not a legal defense mate. Claims it was only $20k each. Come on! A Suzuki motor vehicle for your partner. A boat for your mate. (Yes the media joked it was a yacht but you said it was only a tinny in his backyard. I'm sorry Billy but a tinny only costs $5k to $10k plus another lot for the outboard motor from Suzuki). Home renovations.
He claims money doesn't motivate him - huh! Yet when he was 16 working in the horse stables of millionaire heiress Gai Waterhourse he thought it was unfair that backpackers were earning $25/hr doing the same job as him but didn't know which end a bridle went on a horse, but he was only being paid $5/hr which is hard to believe given the minimum wage then (1999) would have been around $12. Perhaps deductions for room and board. He didn't say. But seriously if he felt ripped off by it then why didn't he ask or confront the very wealthy owner? Or check if these fly ins from Europe and UK really were on $25/hr. Or maybe because they were older? Maybe they did other work? Who knows, but Billy seems to lack the curiosity or insight to seek the truth.
Yes the penalty was a little bit harsh. Of course it was you silly mug, it was unprecedented. It was criminal. It was shocking. Fans packed up all their overpriced Chinese made merch and purply pride trinkets and stuffed it in a black garbage bag and dumped it at the Melbourne Storm HQ and training paddock. That's pretty memorable and symbolic event isn't it? Dozens and dozens of fans gathering up hundreds, even thousands of dollars of their hard earned money wasted on merch, and crying and shouting at cameras, angrily dumping their cheating teams crap basically at your doorstep! You didn't mention that did you? Only that new members signed up in a futile attempt at rallying support behind money-hungry thugs. The penalties had to send a message. And maybe it was a mistake to not allow the team to play for points after stripping them for the first 4 games. Storm cheated for 5 years straight! The Eels did it for one year! By then, in 2016 it was realised that it was a bit cruel and counterproductive to not allows teams play for points.
Also he claims he wasn't out for revenge or anything, but contradicts himself. Or Richard got his notes mixed up.
These 'big 3 players' Slater, Smith and Inglis (later left to go to Russel Crowe's South Sydney Rabbitohs 'Bunnies') got all these free gifts and two different contracts claim it was all a surprise and they're innocent. Give me a break. Claiming the contracts are 50 pages and weren't read is bullshit. Just trusting your agent is not an excuse. The Nuremburg 'just following orders Your Honour' doesn't cut it. The Big 3 became Slater, Smith and Cooper Cronk (now he'll write his own autobio I hope! He's read David Brooks' The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement and a few others. He's a kind and humble guy. He's one of the few celebrities or sports stars I would jump at an opportunity to meet and have a meal with. In other word's 'He's a Good Bloke!'. I respect him in other words. I don't respect any of his team mates.)
So he and they resent the term 'Big 3'. Well stiff bickies mate, you are the top 3 player on the team and you've been playing together since you were in under 19s at Brisbane North Devils. Plus add the fact that it is the 3 big main, most important positions in rugby league for attacking ball play and decision making, and coordinating defense. The fullback (jersey #1), the dummy-half (#9) and the halfback (#7) or for you yanks the quarterback or first receiver. Also called the 'spine'
So a 'spine' playing together for so many years, and over 300 games would make you incredibly potent, any team they play in has a huge advantage. Separate them out to other teams and they wouldn't be so good. And this is what Billy says, contradicting himself.
The captain and dummy-half is simply excused as 'assertive' when talking to the refs. LOL. What a joke. The cheating tactics of wrestling to injure players and slow down play is all classic Cameron Smith. They go against the spirit of the game and professional sport in general. The refs are scared to go against News Limited's Melbourne Storm, coach Craig Bellamy and Maroon's and Kangaroo's captain 'Ref Smith'.
What makes Storm so good is the natural talent, the highly competitive nature of the players, the strong culture, the simple and boring game plans, the 'more you sweat in training the less you bleed in war' regime, the get in front then defend it out until the clock runs out (which forces errors by maintaining pressure), consistency, mental mindgames and the innovations or 'cheats' they spring on the game. Nearly everything that has been banned or changed has been because of Storm. They were the first to implement grubby tactics. Such as holding a forward after the ball is out of the scrum. Billy doesn't mention that one. Or any really. Just the wrestling but as always excuses it as 'Oh everyone was doing it anyway!' Well yeah because you thugs started it!
Richard Hinds should be ashamed of himself. A suckup of a journo to curry favour with Storm and Billy the Kid.
What bugged me (and dropped the book from 4 stars to 3) at the end was the bagging of Blues selection of 'big names' rather than 'hard workers'. What a joke. A hypocrite too, given that Queensland is full of big names, with the rare occasion of a 'no-name' being picked due to being a Storm teammate, or Cowboys. I feel sorry for Billy Slater actually, Richard Hinds has made his client look even worse. Well he's not very bright, so it's understandable. So if you're not that intelligent and know it, don't bag those that are, just because they're different. Especially team mates. And it's counterproductive when you're not wanting to perpetuate the stereotype that all rugby players are stupid.
Mostly written by Richard Hinds I assume. Apparently Billy reads (yet says Ryan Hoffman, a team mate and Blues Origin player is a bit of a nerd [but doesn't expand on why he says that]) and has written some kids books (or just licensed his name to appear on them) and yet he says school wasn't his thing and is somehow using what would appear to be a mixed bunch of words which might indicate some semblance of intelligence. Or awareness of what a thesaurus is.
For example sometimes the footy field is referred to as the track. OK so he likes horses and the race track. Other times it's field. No big deal, but it occurs for other words too. So it makes me suspicious that Billy wrote a single sentence in this book and just let sports journo Richard Hinds interview him and compile lots of written and visual media to piece this 'autobiography' together for him. After all Billy is a very busy boy. Always working so hard.
A few things standout to me as defensive and fallacious. A few incongruities too.
First the salary cap. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbour...
'I know nothink' - Sgt Schultz from 'Hogan's Heroes'...is not a legal defense mate. Claims it was only $20k each. Come on! A Suzuki motor vehicle for your partner. A boat for your mate. (Yes the media joked it was a yacht but you said it was only a tinny in his backyard. I'm sorry Billy but a tinny only costs $5k to $10k plus another lot for the outboard motor from Suzuki). Home renovations.
He claims money doesn't motivate him - huh! Yet when he was 16 working in the horse stables of millionaire heiress Gai Waterhourse he thought it was unfair that backpackers were earning $25/hr doing the same job as him but didn't know which end a bridle went on a horse, but he was only being paid $5/hr which is hard to believe given the minimum wage then (1999) would have been around $12. Perhaps deductions for room and board. He didn't say. But seriously if he felt ripped off by it then why didn't he ask or confront the very wealthy owner? Or check if these fly ins from Europe and UK really were on $25/hr. Or maybe because they were older? Maybe they did other work? Who knows, but Billy seems to lack the curiosity or insight to seek the truth.
Yes the penalty was a little bit harsh. Of course it was you silly mug, it was unprecedented. It was criminal. It was shocking. Fans packed up all their overpriced Chinese made merch and purply pride trinkets and stuffed it in a black garbage bag and dumped it at the Melbourne Storm HQ and training paddock. That's pretty memorable and symbolic event isn't it? Dozens and dozens of fans gathering up hundreds, even thousands of dollars of their hard earned money wasted on merch, and crying and shouting at cameras, angrily dumping their cheating teams crap basically at your doorstep! You didn't mention that did you? Only that new members signed up in a futile attempt at rallying support behind money-hungry thugs. The penalties had to send a message. And maybe it was a mistake to not allow the team to play for points after stripping them for the first 4 games. Storm cheated for 5 years straight! The Eels did it for one year! By then, in 2016 it was realised that it was a bit cruel and counterproductive to not allows teams play for points.
Also he claims he wasn't out for revenge or anything, but contradicts himself. Or Richard got his notes mixed up.
These 'big 3 players' Slater, Smith and Inglis (later left to go to Russel Crowe's South Sydney Rabbitohs 'Bunnies') got all these free gifts and two different contracts claim it was all a surprise and they're innocent. Give me a break. Claiming the contracts are 50 pages and weren't read is bullshit. Just trusting your agent is not an excuse. The Nuremburg 'just following orders Your Honour' doesn't cut it. The Big 3 became Slater, Smith and Cooper Cronk (now he'll write his own autobio I hope! He's read David Brooks' The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement and a few others. He's a kind and humble guy. He's one of the few celebrities or sports stars I would jump at an opportunity to meet and have a meal with. In other word's 'He's a Good Bloke!'. I respect him in other words. I don't respect any of his team mates.)
So he and they resent the term 'Big 3'. Well stiff bickies mate, you are the top 3 player on the team and you've been playing together since you were in under 19s at Brisbane North Devils. Plus add the fact that it is the 3 big main, most important positions in rugby league for attacking ball play and decision making, and coordinating defense. The fullback (jersey #1), the dummy-half (#9) and the halfback (#7) or for you yanks the quarterback or first receiver. Also called the 'spine'
So a 'spine' playing together for so many years, and over 300 games would make you incredibly potent, any team they play in has a huge advantage. Separate them out to other teams and they wouldn't be so good. And this is what Billy says, contradicting himself.
The captain and dummy-half is simply excused as 'assertive' when talking to the refs. LOL. What a joke. The cheating tactics of wrestling to injure players and slow down play is all classic Cameron Smith. They go against the spirit of the game and professional sport in general. The refs are scared to go against News Limited's Melbourne Storm, coach Craig Bellamy and Maroon's and Kangaroo's captain 'Ref Smith'.
What makes Storm so good is the natural talent, the highly competitive nature of the players, the strong culture, the simple and boring game plans, the 'more you sweat in training the less you bleed in war' regime, the get in front then defend it out until the clock runs out (which forces errors by maintaining pressure), consistency, mental mindgames and the innovations or 'cheats' they spring on the game. Nearly everything that has been banned or changed has been because of Storm. They were the first to implement grubby tactics. Such as holding a forward after the ball is out of the scrum. Billy doesn't mention that one. Or any really. Just the wrestling but as always excuses it as 'Oh everyone was doing it anyway!' Well yeah because you thugs started it!
Richard Hinds should be ashamed of himself. A suckup of a journo to curry favour with Storm and Billy the Kid.
What bugged me (and dropped the book from 4 stars to 3) at the end was the bagging of Blues selection of 'big names' rather than 'hard workers'. What a joke. A hypocrite too, given that Queensland is full of big names, with the rare occasion of a 'no-name' being picked due to being a Storm teammate, or Cowboys. I feel sorry for Billy Slater actually, Richard Hinds has made his client look even worse. Well he's not very bright, so it's understandable. So if you're not that intelligent and know it, don't bag those that are, just because they're different. Especially team mates. And it's counterproductive when you're not wanting to perpetuate the stereotype that all rugby players are stupid.
September 11, 2017
Don't expect ant scandalous gossip or the like from this auto bio of a NRL champ; instead expect a solid yarn!
I'm always on the fence about reading sport stars autobios after the disaster that was Nathan Buckley's attempt but Billy Slater is the complete opposite of Buckley's attempt!
This autobio will keep you entertained and you don't want to put it down; and when you do you want to pick it back up!
Starting from when he's a young fella, Slatrt takes us all the way through to 2017 with a focus on his sporting prowress. While that sounds arrogant it is not as he's just a guy who he found something he enjoys doing in life and that enjoyment shows.
If you're on the fence about buying this autobio don't- it's well worth the investment and provides an insight into Billy the Kid.
I'm always on the fence about reading sport stars autobios after the disaster that was Nathan Buckley's attempt but Billy Slater is the complete opposite of Buckley's attempt!
This autobio will keep you entertained and you don't want to put it down; and when you do you want to pick it back up!
Starting from when he's a young fella, Slatrt takes us all the way through to 2017 with a focus on his sporting prowress. While that sounds arrogant it is not as he's just a guy who he found something he enjoys doing in life and that enjoyment shows.
If you're on the fence about buying this autobio don't- it's well worth the investment and provides an insight into Billy the Kid.
September 6, 2017
No scandal, no sensationalist reveals or the like. Just an entertaining read giving an insight to the work ethic and character of Billy Slater and his journey from football loving kid in Inisfail to the best modern day fullback rugby league has seen.
April 19, 2025
don’t know why I read this but go off billy
October 14, 2017
This book may actually change my opinion on autobiographies. Rather than a dry, factual retelling, this book was a conversation. It was like he was sitting next to you answering any questions that you might have had along the way.
I also loved how the chapters were broken down into mini-stories rather than the traditional 'then this happened, then this happened' style. He would mention another aspect of his life but continue with the story he was telling before moving on to the next one in a way that the reader was never confused. He told the story of growing up with Cameron and Cooper before moving on to the story of Craig and then the story of the Storm cheating scandal- all overlapping but each completed in their own way.
The book ends after Billy's return to the second Origin game where they made a huge comeback after halftime to win the game. Of course, now that we know how the year went on to go, the book feels unfinished. Queensland went on to win the Origin series once again and the Storm won the Premiership for the first time since 2012 and all within Billy's comeback year. That is a perfect ending.
But who knows? Billy is continuing on for another year and I would be all for a bonus edition telling the story of his last year and that epic win!
I also loved how the chapters were broken down into mini-stories rather than the traditional 'then this happened, then this happened' style. He would mention another aspect of his life but continue with the story he was telling before moving on to the next one in a way that the reader was never confused. He told the story of growing up with Cameron and Cooper before moving on to the story of Craig and then the story of the Storm cheating scandal- all overlapping but each completed in their own way.
The book ends after Billy's return to the second Origin game where they made a huge comeback after halftime to win the game. Of course, now that we know how the year went on to go, the book feels unfinished. Queensland went on to win the Origin series once again and the Storm won the Premiership for the first time since 2012 and all within Billy's comeback year. That is a perfect ending.
But who knows? Billy is continuing on for another year and I would be all for a bonus edition telling the story of his last year and that epic win!
October 18, 2017
Written Response
Title: Billy Slater Autobiography
Author: Richard Hinds
Gener: Autobiography
I decided to read this book because Billy Slayer is my favourite rugby league player and role model. I also decided to read this because my goal is to play rugby league when I’m older like Billy Slater and I wanted to see what he did to play rugby league professionally.
I found Billy Slater interesting because when he was injured and he kept trying to come back and play footy. I would describe him as a never giving up person who shows resilience and has a positive and humble attitude.
"you make your own luck with hard work and perseverance." This quote is memorable because it says to never give up and good things will come Hard work comes with commitment and goal focus. "Another memorable quotation is " I like to rate my own performance and not to compare them to others." This quotation is memorable because it shows that you should worry about yourself and not others, you gain nothing by looking at others it’s important to do you.
If I could ask the author anything I would ask him what does his family mean to him and what is their role in his success.
The moment that I would change is when he signed with the Melbourne Storms. I would change this moment by Billy Slater taking the Brisbane Broncos contract in 2003 because Broncos is my favourite team.
Title: Billy Slater Autobiography
Author: Richard Hinds
Gener: Autobiography
I decided to read this book because Billy Slayer is my favourite rugby league player and role model. I also decided to read this because my goal is to play rugby league when I’m older like Billy Slater and I wanted to see what he did to play rugby league professionally.
I found Billy Slater interesting because when he was injured and he kept trying to come back and play footy. I would describe him as a never giving up person who shows resilience and has a positive and humble attitude.
"you make your own luck with hard work and perseverance." This quote is memorable because it says to never give up and good things will come Hard work comes with commitment and goal focus. "Another memorable quotation is " I like to rate my own performance and not to compare them to others." This quotation is memorable because it shows that you should worry about yourself and not others, you gain nothing by looking at others it’s important to do you.
If I could ask the author anything I would ask him what does his family mean to him and what is their role in his success.
The moment that I would change is when he signed with the Melbourne Storms. I would change this moment by Billy Slater taking the Brisbane Broncos contract in 2003 because Broncos is my favourite team.
April 27, 2018
I’ve always admired Billy Slater, but after reading this autobiography I’ve reassessed this admiration. The book itself is highly readable and conversational and I suspect ghost written because I don’t believe Billy would have written this “autobiography” given by his own admission he didn’t perform well at school.
However, I found his attitude frustrating. I understand he’s worked hard and I’m not taking away his natural athleticism and ability but it’s how he defends his actions for his suspensions I found hard to swallow – I take responsibility BUT…. I know I did the wrong thing BUT…… or with the salary cap scandal “the players and coaches didn’t know” “I didn’t read my contract”, etc. and their penalties were too harsh. Saying they won in those years because of the culture at the Storm and hard work. I think he’s in denial!!! They cheated!!!!
Sadly this “autobiography” has tarnished my admiration for Billy and as a Qld supporter when he wears the Qld jersey again I won’t feel as much pride.
However, I found his attitude frustrating. I understand he’s worked hard and I’m not taking away his natural athleticism and ability but it’s how he defends his actions for his suspensions I found hard to swallow – I take responsibility BUT…. I know I did the wrong thing BUT…… or with the salary cap scandal “the players and coaches didn’t know” “I didn’t read my contract”, etc. and their penalties were too harsh. Saying they won in those years because of the culture at the Storm and hard work. I think he’s in denial!!! They cheated!!!!
Sadly this “autobiography” has tarnished my admiration for Billy and as a Qld supporter when he wears the Qld jersey again I won’t feel as much pride.
May 20, 2019
Better than a lot of other biographies out there, he does not shy away from saying a few things that are little controversial. Other sport stars do shy away from saying things they want to, especially when they are heading into continued public life after their athletic career is over, not so much Billy. I do doubt how much he actually wrote, my thinking is that it was an oral rendition to Richard Hinds and made it articulate and somewhat readable. There are contributions from Craig Bellamy, Cooper Cronk and Nicole Slater. Worth a read.
April 6, 2018
Really enjoyed it
October 21, 2017
A good casual read.
May 2, 2018
Interesting read enjoyable facts and yarns.
July 18, 2020
Great autobiography about a rugby league player. He was below average height but fast. He played lots of sports. Suitable for ages 13+. Some coarse language and adult themes.
May 12, 2021
A great book for Melbourne Storm fan's.
An excellent insight to Melbourne's greatest Fullback & one of the greatest of all time. I recommend.
An excellent insight to Melbourne's greatest Fullback & one of the greatest of all time. I recommend.
December 31, 2021
Loved this book and I didn't know he worked as a stable hand.I Found this an interesting read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2022
A brilliant read by a very humble person
February 11, 2023
10/10 stars for my favourite dilf
August 2, 2018
2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge: Read A Book About Or Involving Sport
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews