Billy Slater opens up about devastating new family tragedy a year after footy legend's brother in law died saving his daughter from drowning Billy Slater pays tribute to his father Ron Slater senior passed away in late January By JAMES COONEY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 01:40 BST, 26 May 2025 | Updated: 01:40 BST, 26 May 2025 Queensland coach Billy Slater has opened up for the first time about the death of his father just 10 months after the rugby league legend's brother in law died while saving his daughter from drowning. Slater, who is preparing to coach his fourth State of Origin series, says he will miss his dad Ron this week when he heads to Suncorp Stadium for the series Opener. Ron passed away in late January at the age of 72 after a long battle with emphysema. A smoker for 50 years, Ron had a serious health scare in 2018 that led to him giving up smoking and later receiving a double lung transplant in 2021. 'I used to run the Queensland team by Dad every game. I can't do that anymore,' Slater told News Corp. 'I do a lot of travelling in the car, going to the airport, and Dad was the No.1 number on my phone that I would hit. Billy Slater (pictured with wife Nicole) has paid tribute to his late dad Ron as he prepares to lead Queensland into State of Origin Ron Slater (pictured right in a family photo with his wife and children) passed away in late January at the age of 72 after a long battle with emphysema 'I can't make that call anymore for a chat, so they are the times I really miss him. 'He kicked on for another three-and-a-half years and it (his lung condition) finally got him. 'You try to think about the good times you did have and be grateful for that.' Slater senior was a legend of rugby league in Queensland and where Billy got his competitive spirit from. 'That's where I got my passion for the game. He played and coached throughout my childhood,' Slater said. 'Ever since I can remember, I was going training with dad and going to games with him on the bus. He tackled a bit better than me, that's one thing I know. 'In the end, he had pneumonia, but dad said, "I'm living life to the end". 'He said, "That's it, no more hospitals". Slater (pictured centre with his father, left) says it will be the first time he's gone into Origin without his 'best mate' in his corner Ron was a legend of rugby league in Queensland and where Billy got his competitive spirit from It's been a tragic 12 months for Slater's family after the footy legend's brother-in-law Ryan Craig drowned last year 'He was out of fight. 'The saving grace for me is that dad was fully there (with his mental faculties) until the end. 'You see people with dementia, but my old man was with it. He watched footy. 'He spoke to us. He didn't have an enemy in the world. 'He went on his terms and that's one thing I am grateful for.' It's been a heartbreaking 12 months for Slater's family after the footy great's brother-in-law Ryan Craig died last year. The father-of-four, and husband of Slater's sister Sheena, died in Kinchant Dam near Mackay when the boat he and his family were on broke down and he went into the water to rescue his daughter. The nine-year-old was later pulled safe and well from the dam but Craig's body was not recovered until days later. Slater grew up with his older sister in Innisfail, about 90km south of Cairns in Queensland. Ryan Craig (left) passed away after saving his daughter from drowning The 40-year-old all-time footy great played 323 games for the Melbourne Storm during a career in which he reached the absolute pinnacle of rugby league. In addition to his 31 games for Queensland and 30 matches for Australia, Slater starred in seven grand finals, won the Dally M Medal as the NRL's best player in 2011 and took out the Golden Boot award as the top player in the world in 2008. Since he retired in 2018 he has found success as the coach of the Queensland State of Origin side and as a commentator for Channel Nine. In his 2017 autobiography he reminisced about his younger days with Sheena, saying he and his sister 'learned to value what we were given' as the family struggled to make ends meet - but added that they 'never felt poor'. Share or comment on this article: Billy Slater opens up about devastating new family tragedy a year after footy legend's brother in law died saving his daughter from drowning Add comment