Joyce Churchill says Melbourne fullback Billy Slater reminds her of Clive Churchill

THE widow of Immortal Clive Churchill has paid Billy Slater the ultimate accolade, declaring: “When I go and see Billy play, I think it’s Clive.”

Storm's Billy Slater makes a break during the round 7 NRL game between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Melbourne Storm at Lottoland, Brookvale. Picture: Gregg Porteous

THE footy-loving widow of Immortal Clive Churchill has compared Melbourne’s superstar fullback Billy Slater to her late husband, declaring: “When I go and see Billy play, I think it’s Clive.”

Slater will play his 299th NRL game in Sunday’s grand final against the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium, unsure at 34 whether he will play on next season.

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The much-loved Joyce Churchill said she relished watching the Storm custodian, who scored two tries in Melbourne’s 30-0 preliminary final win over Brisbane.

Slater’s double took his career tally to 182 tries — second in Australian rugby league history behind the great Ken Irvine, who an incredible 212 times.

Joyce Churchill has long been a fixture at the grand final.

Slater is $8 with the TAB to win the Clive Churchill Medal for man-of-the-match honours on grand final day.

Churchill, now 91, still watches lot of rugby league and marvels at Slater, much like she did her beloved Clive.

“Billy is the second Clive Churchill, for sure. He is Clive all over again,” Joyce told The Daily Telegraph.

“He makes tries, he scores tries. I think ‘Well, that’s Clive’.

“Billy comes into the game like Clive did. He passes the ball the same. He doesn’t stand back.

“Billy is quick with his hands and reads the play. I have met Billy a few times and we have talked about this.

Churchill is counted as one of the greatest players in rugby league history.

“He knows that I think he reminds me of Clive.”

Both players revolutionised the attacking role of fullbacks with their ball movement and ability to get involved in the play.

There are also the physical similarities. At 178cm, Slater is slightly taller than Churchill was at 175cm.

“They have the same build,” Churchill said. “Clive didn’t have a real big build. He was stocky.

“Billy has much the same build as Clive.”

Debate has raged about who has been rugby league’s best fullback since Churchill, who retired from South Sydney in 1958.

“I have been going to the football for many years. I really do watch the fullbacks more than any other players,” she said.

After two years blighted by injury, Slater has a chance at another premiership.

“I find that watching Billy is like watching Clive all over again.”

Joyce reckons she knows the winner of Sunday’s grand final.

“The Storm,” she said. “They have great players — Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater.

“They are lovely to watch too. They pass the football, you see quite a bit of football.

“They play from one side to the other. Everyone is involved in the play. They throw the ball around.”

Slater has made a remarkable return after missing nearly two years of football through injury.

“He missed 18 months and missed the big game last year. It is why he plays, he wants to play in big games,” said Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

“To see him go out there (against Brisbane), to score a couple of tries and get the chance to go back to the big dance again, that is a great story.”