The boos for Billy Slater throughout the NRL grand final have been taken as a sign of respect by the retiring Melbourne fullback.
Storm captain Cameron Smith did not hide his displeasure at ANZ Stadium fans who jeered Slater in his final game after Melbourne’s 21-6 loss to Sydney Roosters, saying the 35-year-old deserved more respect.
But the man himself took it as a compliment.
“To be honest they probably do respect me, that’s probably why they do it,” he said.
“I am playing against their team. They probably see me as a threat.
“That is what sport is about, you create a thick skin in this game.
“I am not the only player who has been booed.”
Slater is considered the game’s greatest fullback but he was clearly not the most popular after controversially escaping a shoulder-charge ban to draw the curtain on his 16-season career in the grand final.
The former Test No.1 was jeered every time he touched the ball, even copping them before he even got onto the field.
Boos echoed around ANZ Stadium when Slater’s name was mentioned in the list of NRL 2018 retirees honoured pre-match and received another serve when footage of him warming up in the dressing room lit up the venue’s big screen.
Asked if the crowd were disrespectful, Smith said: “I don’t think there is any other way to say that.
“He’s only ever been someone good for the game, I think he deserved a bit more respect than that.”
There was no respite for Slater, whose post-match TV interview was almost drowned out by boos as he tried to collect his thoughts after the shattering loss.
Slater kept his composure, almost laughing at the crowd reaction as he was interviewed by Andrew Johns.
“I come to expect to be booed at this stadium to be honest,” Slater said afterwards.
“That’s the way it goes. They (Roosters) are pretty passionate about their team. That sort of stuff doesn’t affect me any more.”
Unlike the crowd, Smith savoured his final time with his former club, Queensland and Kangaroos teammate Slater.
“There have been a couple of moments this week (where I) was taking time to realise it is the last time I am here with Billy,” he said.
“I am very grateful I got the opportunity to play my entire career with a person like Billy.
“That was the closing chapter. In the years we have spent together the good memories far outweigh the bad.”
The Barry
Roar Guru
And you’ve confirmed that the only reason Goodes was booed was because he objected to being called an ape. The whole incident was a disgraceful embarrassment. To think there’s still gronks out there like you willing to bring it up as somehow a slight on Goodes is even worse.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You’re a backwards embarrassing gronk if you can’t see how someone - regardless of their age - calling an indigenous person an ape is offensive. How many Anglo heritage players have you seen or heard called ape or hasd bananas thrown at them or pennies? It’s extremely fukn raci$t and offensive and trying to say “ape is not the sole domain of any one race” doesn’t make you funny or clever. You’re a raci$t as well.
Doc79
Roar Rookie
Really?- a grown man heckled by a 13 year old girl. Cry me a river. It was an embarrassment. The word ape is not the sole domain of any particular race. Maybe primates would be concerned about the appropriation of their species to define homo sapiens?
Wayne Turner
Guest
Still a grub. I have a great memory.
Wayne Turner
Guest
hip-hop til you don't stop.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Slater is one of the greatest ever, he is very competitive and can bend the rules including diving, but there is no way he is a dirty player . Cameron Smith on the other hand he is the ultimate henchman, would he have been as dirty without a coach like Bellamy definetly not. Other greats of the game were naturally very dirty players, Rod Reddy very talented player but very dirty as well, he used it very well. Les Boyd he didn;t use dirty play as a means to an end it was what he wanted to do most on the field only the coach, refs and judiciary were holding him back.
The Barry
Roar Guru
There’s a huge difference. Fans were booing Slater because he got off from a charge at the judiciary. Goodes was booed because he refused to accept being called an ape. That was his only act of “villainy”
Rob
Guest
It's interesting the reference to the spirit of the game being different. Despite some terrible consequences the bouncer has never been banned in the gentlemanly game of cricket? It's an accepted part of the game but serves little purpose other than intimidation and the threat of injury. Physical contact in Rugby League is an integral part of the games appeal. I haven't witnessed a big hit without shoulder contact. The big hits are all over the Roar video posts. If you don't want to put your shoulder in defending your try line you never played the game IMO. Billy was penalised for not using his arms in a collision. Punishment suffice. Spirit of the game is a great point for the pathetic mugs believe booing(verbally abusing) any player after the game is acceptable.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Me too...it’s going to take a while
db
Guest
I'm trying to imagine a world where a player wouldn't have contested the charge.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Come off it mate...are you seriously having a crack at him for defending himself against the charge? No it wasn’t his fault he got off at all. He put up a defence and the judiciary bought it. It’s their responsibility to enforce a punishment if one’s required, not Slaters.
Doc79
Roar Rookie
It's more directed towards the officialdom of the game that allows it to get to this point I reckon. May I note, unlike the booing of Goodes, no one states- 'It's because of his race.' Fans love a villain- regardless.
soapit
Roar Guru
suttons fault for not upgrading to a penalty. not too classy from slater but not really up there in crimes done on a football field and the nrl cant really be surprised that he feels he can speak that way to officials given there was no consequence.
soapit
Roar Guru
wasnt his fault he got off the charge? i spose he was just walking in the vicinity of the hearing room and some lawyers in the area unavoidably argued he should get off. man he really just cant help being in the wrong place at the wrong time can he.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Bust a move...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Some league fans are complete bogans. Who knew?
The Barry
Roar Guru
A day late and a buck short...story of your life BigJ
Rob
Guest
So what. It's in the heat of the battle and Sutton had the whistle in his hand. He can bin him. Billy didn't abuse Sutton after the game, he shock his hand and showed respect by congratulating his opponents.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
I think he said, "use your football brain".. Either way, if that is abuse; the way Cordner and Friend yelled at the referee together, when the game was basically over was far, far worse.
Rob
Guest
The Roosters were the integrators of the gang tackle and controlling the speed of the attack. They were very successful in the Gould/Stuart era. Boo the officials if you think they are winning because of how they play. Billy has copped plenty of grubby cheap shots and given as good as he got over his career. The way the Officials were booed receiving their medals after the game was equally pathetic IMO. They do there best and cop plenty of abuse doing a thankless job. The least the fans can do is be respectful of their efforts after the game is done especially when the game was decide by the 34 players that took the field.