- Slater and his wife walked the red carpet on Thursday
- A couple attended the Cirque Du Soleil show in Melbourne
- A couple mourns the death of NRL Great’s brother-in-law
NRL legend Billy Slater and his wife Nicole have been seen together in public for the first time since suffering an unimaginable family tragedy.
The grieving couple took time to walk the red carpet ahead of the Cirque Du Soleil – LUZIA show on Thursday evening at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse.
Earlier this month, Slater’s brother-in-law drowned while saving his daughter’s life when she fell from their boat into a Queensland dam.
Father-of-four Ryan Craig, who was married to Slater’s older sister Sheena, died at Kinchant Dam near Mackay on March 11 when the boat he and his family were on broke down and he went into the water to save his daughter.
The boy, nine, was later recovered safely from the dam, but Mr Craig’s body was not found until two days later.
NRL legend Billy Slater and his wife Nicole have been seen together in public for the first time since suffering an unimaginable family tragedy (pictured)
The Melbourne Storm star turned Queensland State of Origin coach looked happy and relaxed before attending a Cirque Du Soleil show in Melbourne
Earlier this month, Slater’s brother-in-law drowned while saving his daughter’s life when she fell from their boat into a Queensland dam
As the search for Mr Craig was carried out, Senior Sergeant Trevor Robson said: ‘It is clear that the family are very upset about what has happened and we can only imagine the trauma they are going through.
“You wouldn’t wish that on your worst enemy.”
Cameron Smith, Slater’s old teammate at the Melbourne Storm and for Queensland and Australia, said the fullback was shocked by the family tragedy.
Smith revealed that the tragedy occurred at a place where Craig, his partner and four children regularly went on ‘family outings’.
“I called Billy and talked to him and he just said, ‘Look, it’s an absolutely tragic situation, considering the situation,’” he said.
‘It is a place where they spend a lot of time with the growing children. They have four children. They have four little girls.
‘They were on the water and just a sequence of events led to Ryan and his eldest daughter falling into the water and unfortunately a bit of weather came up and blew the boat away from where they had fallen into the water and the boat couldn’t be started.
‘It was actually a heroic effort by Ryan to keep riding as long as a float to save his daughter.
Father-of-four Ryan Craig – who was married to Slater’s older sister Sheena (pictured together) – died at Kinchant Dam near Mackay on March 11 when the boat he and his family were on broke down and he went into the water to catch his save family. daughter
The boy, nine, was later recovered safely from the dam, but Mr Craig’s body was not found until two days later.
‘Eventually he had no energy left. A little while later some jet skiers came by and I don’t know how – it’s just a miracle – the little girl was still floating.”
Slater grew up with his older sister in Innisfail, about 90km south of Cairns in Queensland.
The 40-year-old all-time footy great – who was also once a promising jockey – played 323 games for the Melbourne Storm during a distinguished career.
In addition to his 31 games for Queensland and 30 games for Australia, Slater played in seven NRL grand finals, won the Dally M Medal as the NRL’s best player in 2011 and won the Golden Boot as the world’s best player in 2008. .
Since retiring in 2018, he has achieved success as coach of Queensland State of Origin and as a commentator for Channel Nine.
