"Billy Slater has been called the best fullback ever to have played the game by rugby league greats and fans alike. With a glittering collection of personal and club honours, including four grand final wins, five Dally M awards and two Clive Churchill Medals, he has delighted fans of the Melbourne Storm, Queensland State of Origin and the Australian Kangaroos for sixteen years. More than just a decorated player, however, Slater is a widely regarded and respected figure in the sport. A young country recruit with superb natural talent, he debuted for the Storm after only one pre-season in Melbourne and sent shockwaves through State of Origin in just his second season. But Slater capitalised on his talent with a fierce competitive drive and a relentless work ethic, which he learned from his parents and honed working in the racing industry before hitting the NRL stage. As well as many celebrated victories, Slater's career has seen him confront the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal, heartbreaking losses and a devastating shoulder injury that made him fear that he would never hold his children again, let alone compete in a brutal sport like rugby league. Through it all Slater has emerged not merely as a great of the game, but as an even more resilient character, an ambassador for his sport, and a devoted husband and father. Featuring contributions from rugby league legends like Cooper Cronk, Craig Bellamy, Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith, and from the Slater family, this edition is updated to include Billy's final season in the NRL before farewelling the game."--Publsiher.

During a long and decorated career with the Melbourne Storm, Queensland and Australia, Billy Slater has forged a reputation as not merely one of rugby league’s great full-backs, but as one of the best players in the game's long history. Slater’s story is that of a young country recruit with superb natural talent who rose quickly to the top level playing with the Storm after just one pre-season in Melbourne and starring for Queensland during just his second season in the NRL. But inside the player who has scored so many audacious tries on the game’s biggest stages is a fierce competitive drive and a relentless work ethic. One inherited from parents who worked multiple jobs to provide for their two children. From the northern Queensland town of Innisfail, Slater enjoyed the quintessential Queensland upbringing. His father was a local rugby league coach, one grandfather worked in the cane fields and another was a miner and a country and western singer. For a time horses rather than football were Slater’s passion. He gave up rugby league for 18 months and worked as a track rider and stable hand for renowned trainer Gai Waterhouse in Sydney. But it was on the football field rather than the racetrack that Slater was always destined to make his name. Never the biggest or the strongest player as a junior, he worked harder than most to become an integral part of the Melbourne Storm and Queensland dynasties and an automatic selection in the national team. During his decorated career Slater has been confronted by the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal, career-threatening injuries, the disappointment of lost grand finals, his early axing from the Queensland team, a game-losing mistake with the Kangaroos and accusations about his allegedly rough style of play. Slater has emerged not merely as a great of the game, but as an even more resilient character, a respected spokesman for his sport, a devoted husband and father and, in a moment of emotional vindication – a member of the Storm’s defiant 2012 premiership team.

***CAPTAIN OF THE 2020 TELSTRA NRL PREMIERSHIP WINNERS THE MELBOURNE STORM*** Cameron Smith AM is the most decorated rugby league player of all time. The recipient of numerous Dally M and Golden Boot awards, he has starred in the toughest league competition on the planet every season since he made his NRL debut in 2002. Captaining the Melbourne Storm to multiple premierships, Smith played in a staggering seventeen finals campaigns. An integral member of the record-breaking Queensland teams of 2006-2017, he won eleven State of Origin series. As skipper of the Australian national team for over a decade, he led the Kangaroos to two World Cups. Smith is credited with revolutionising the number nine position. He holds the State of Origin records for most appearances and most wins, as well as the NRL records for most games, goals, points scored, wins and appearances as captain. This book maps his unique journey in the game: an extraordinary look into the biggest matches and biggest moments, Smith describes his career with great colour and candour, outlining what it takes to climb to the highest level in sport. Talent aside, it is Smith's intelligence and poise that set him apart, coupled with consistency, durability and longevity that are unlikely to ever be matched. Notoriously private throughout his career, The Storm Within sets the record straight. Finally, the life behind the legend - the man behind the mystery - tells his story. Features a foreword by legendary Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

A searing, raw and honest memoir of television's greatest SAS veteran. Sergeant Major Mark 'Billy' Billingham recounts his life, twenty-seven years of military service as an elite soldier, and new-found fame on the hugely successful Channel Four series SAS: Who dares Wins.

The bestselling autobiography of a league legend. Johnathan Thurston is widely regarded as rugby league's greatest player. This autobiography will follow Thurston's journey from a Brisbane kid who was written off as too skinny, too slow and too wild to play professionally, to his debut with the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2003, to State of Origin star, to Dally M and Clive Churchill Medal winner, and the fairytale premierships.

‘Reveals his poignant battle against the dark side of his return to the pool’ - Donald McRae, Guardian By the age of 14, at a time when most boys are coming to terms with teenage life, Ian Thorpe was representing his country and becoming the youngest ever individual male world champion. The ‘Thorpedo’ was soon the most famous swimmer in the world, routinely picking up Olympic gold medals and setting record-breaking times. But behind the public face of success, there was the hardship of a life lived in the constant glare of media attention and rumour. As Thorpe continued to work for his fans, he hid away a secret battle against depression and was ushered into retirement at just 24 years of age. Raw, honest and compelling, Thorpe’s memoir brilliantly unveils the costs that sometimes come with unimaginable success. ‘Fans of his easy style are in for a shock with his book’ - Giles Hattersley, Sunday Times

JT. One of the greats, simply the best. He is Johnathan Thurston. As a young Brisbane kid, Johnathan Thurston was written off as too skinny, too slow and too wild to play rugby league professionally. But he defied the odds to become one of the game's greatest players. In this young readers' edition of his bestselling autobiography, follow his journey from his debut with the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2002, to State of Origin star, and to total legend of the game.

In this powerful, open and honest memoir, sporting champion Sonny Bill Williams shares the triumphs and missteps of his extraordinary sporting life and reveals how faith and family have made him the man he is today. Unforgettable and inspiring. 'compelling and open-hearted' Donald McRae, Guardian 'Excellent' David Walsh, Sunday Times 'an athlete like no other...complex and interesting.' Weekend Australian 'full of hard truths that sporting teams, sportspeople and fans can learn from.' Sun-Herald Sonny Bill Williams (SBW) is a once in a hundred-year athlete with immense sporting talent in Rugby League, Rugby Union and Boxing. Sonny Bill has built an incredible career and sporting reputation across the globe. His athleticism has taken him from inner-city Auckland, where he grew up, to the highest sporting moments in Twickenham, Eden Park and Sydney's Olympic Stadium. But there is so much more to Sonny Bill Williams' life and journey than his on-field and in-the-ring triumphs. Sonny Bill's love of family, his faith, his skill and performance throughout his unparalleled sporting career, his ability to unite a team under pressure, his grace in owning his mistakes, the challenges of leaving home as a young man and dealing with a negative culture and the temptations that followed, and his courage in speaking out for the vulnerable and calling out injustice are all aspects of an inspiring life story. Sonny Bill Williams was the first Muslim to play for the All Blacks. Driven by a fierce moral compass, Sonny Bill thoughtfully and authentically uses his standing and platform as both a UNICEF Ambassador and an elite sportsperson to speak out on political issues that confront the world today and to benefit those struggling in life. He is a dedicated family man, devoted to his faith, committed to his teammates, respectful of his fans and aware that the path he has taken can inspire and empower others. He is especially focused on opening up opportunities for his Pasifika brothers and sisters and for people of colour. Writing with Alan Duff, award-winning author of Once Were Warriors, this is a must-read memoir for anyone who loves sport and an inspiring story of faith, family and the power of daring to dream.

Alex Murphy has always been hard to ignore - in a glittering rugby league career spanning four decades, fame and controversy have always been present. Murphy's row with Wigan chairman and one-time friend Maurice Lindsay, when he was accused of trying to strangle him with his own telephone cord; the time Syd Hines headbutted him at Wembley, believing Murphy had deliberately taken a dive to get him sent off; his two tours, including the 1958 Battle of Brisbane, and how he spat the dummy, costing himself a third tour... All this and more are given the unique Murphy treatment in this no-holds-barred autobiography.

Updated by the very respected Ron Palenski