I didn't cost us the World Cup: Slater

Peter Cassidy | 25/11/08 | 0

Under-fire Australian fullback Billy Slater has defended the brain explosion which handed the Kiwis an eight point lead deep into the second half in Saturday night's World Cup decider.

The Melbourne flyer has copped a barrage from media and fans, with widespread suggestion he cost the Kangaroos the trophy - but Slater insists he was just playing his natural game and doesn't deserve the mountain of criticism.

Faced with the decision of either stepping safely inside Kiwi winger Manu Vatuvei or risking the all-or-nothing option on his outside - Slater took the later.

He was shoved into touch, but managed to flick a loose pass behind him... and into the waiting arms of Benji Marshall.

"In round one this year, I did get past him in exactly the same position on the field," Slater told Fairfax newspapers.

"It's just the way I play. If I see an opportunity, I'm going to have a crack at it more times than not.

"But I'd like to have my time over again, obviously. We were two points behind, with less than 20 to go. I probably should have backed my teammates to get over the line. That's the way footy is.

"If I had my time over again, I'd do something different. We lost the game, they scored a try. I'd be stupid if I said I wouldn't do it differently. I saw an opportunity, I went for it.

"There's no point in running around kicking cans. I've just got to get on with it, get on with life. That's the good thing about rugby league. It's a game. It's not life or death.

"There's plenty of people in a worse position than I am."

When media put it to him that he cost Australia the World Cup, Slater was visibly frustrated.

"You guys [the media] have done a fair job.

"But I don't think... I wouldn't put it all on my shoulders. You make mistakes out on a footy field. Mine resulted in a try. I'm sure there were other mistakes out there. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

"Out on the field, you don't get the luxury to think about it.

"That's the game we play, the dice we roll when you run out on the field."

Slater, later awarded Player of the Tournament, admitted he was disappointed by the media's focus.

"It's a little bit disappointing that I'm getting more publicity than what I'd done in the four weeks before.

"But that's the way it goes. I know myself what I've achieved over the last couple of weeks. I'll get on with things. I had a great time, a great five weeks in camp. It's something I'll never forget, even though we didn't get the result. To play for my country was something special."

It's just the way I play. If I see an opportunity, I'm going to have a crack at it more times than not... Billy Slater