Star Australian fullback Billy Slater to retire

MELBOURNE, Australia — Queensland and Australia fullback Billy Slater has confirmed he will retire from rugby league at the end of the NRL season.

The 35-year-old Slater played 30 tests for Australia, 31 State of Origin matches for Queensland — including eight series wins — and won two NRL premierships with the Melbourne Storm during a 16-year professional career.

He was the NRL Player of the Year in 2011 and twice won the Clive Churchill Medal as player of the match in the NRL grand final.

Slater announced his decision at a news conference in Melbourne on Wednesday, saying "I feel so lucky to have had the career I've had."