I'm Callum Slater, 25 years old, the oldest son of Billy Slater and Nicole Slater.

Most people assume I was born into rugby league.

They're right.

Some of my earliest memories aren't of playgrounds—they're of rugby league stadiums. The smell of fresh-cut grass, strapping tape, liniment, and the roar of a packed crowd feels more like home than anywhere else.

While other kids spent Sunday afternoons watching cartoons, I spent them going to footy. I grew up watching Dad play for the Melbourne Storm and Queensland, and that's where my love for rugby league began.

As the oldest of three kids, I shared those memories with my younger brother, Jake, and my younger sister, Tyla Rose. We'd wear our Storm jerseys together, cheer every try, and spend hours playing backyard footy.

One of the best parts of growing up was being surrounded by Dad's closest mates—Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, and Johnathan Thurston. They were at our house all the time with their wives and families. We'd have barbecues, birthdays, holidays, backyard games, and Sunday dinners together. Their kids became some of my closest friends, and it always felt like one big family.

Cooper Cronk is also my godfather, and he's always been someone I've looked up to. Along with Dad, Cameron, and JT, he taught me that success comes from hard work, humility, discipline, and always putting your team first.

Having Billy Slater as my father never meant I had to be him. He simply wanted Jake, Tyla Rose, and me to enjoy the game, respect others, work hard, and always give our best.

Now, at 25 years old, I still love the Melbourne Storm. I still look forward to every State of Origin series, and Sundays still mean rugby league, family, and making memories.

The Slater name will always be part of rugby league history, but my goal is to build my own story. Growing up with an amazing family, a dad who inspired me every day, a godfather like Cooper Cronk, and lifelong family friends like Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston has shown me that rugby league is about much more than winning games.

It's about family.

It's about friendship.

It's about home.

(scene to start) Your in the melbourne storm and your in your 4th season in the NRL and you have never lost a game you have always won a NRL match but not today the NRL match the melbourne storm vs brisbane broncos and the final whistle blows and the brisbane broncos won and your on the in tears you just lost your first ever NRL match 4 seasons in your professional career and your parents Nicole and Billy and your siblings Jake and Tyla and your godfather cooper and coach craig bellamy sees your on the ground in tears sobbing and they run over with your best mate Cameron munster