Billy Slater’s wife has hit out at the man who allegedly attacked her husband at a Manchester nightclub, saying the Kangaroos star could have been killed in the incident.

Slater was detained by police for several hours on Monday before being released without charge after he was involved in a fight in the northern English city, where Australia are based for the Rugby League World Cup.

The incident occurred outside Mojo nightclub at 2.40am on Monday morning, when Slater had been out with his Kangaroos teammates, but both Manchester police and Australian officials say Slater only acted in self defence.

Slater’s wife Nicole posted a message on Instagram saying her husband could have died.

“Some man thought it was OK to punch my husband in the face because he thought he pushed in line,” Nicole wrote.

“If he had king hit him and killed him I would have to raise my two kids alone.

“What has this world come to?”

Greater Manchester Police said a 40-year-old man threw a punch at Slater following a “verbal altercation”, before the NRL star retaliated.

“One of the men threw a punch at the other, so the victim retaliated and punched him back in self-defence,” a spokesman said.

The incident occurred when Slater was going back inside to retrieve his jacket.

Australian team officials released a statement on Monday morning, confirming Slater was involved in the incident, but was the victim.

“After reviewing CCTV footage of a scuffle outside a Manchester nightclub, police have determined that Slater was the victim who then acted in self-defence and has informed him of his right to press charges,” the statement said.

“Billy was returning to the venue to collect his jacket that he left behind, when he was (allegedly) attacked.

“Both men were detained for several hours while police reviewed footage of the incident.”

The incident involving Slater comes after his national teammate Josh Papalii was robbed on a night out last month, soon after the team had arrived in Manchester.

Kangaroos players do not have a curfew and are allowed to go out on certain nights during the arduous six-week campaign.

They were out celebrating the 50-0 win over Ireland on Sunday after taking a late charter flight back from Limerick following Saturday night’s match.

Slater was one of the try scorers in Australia’s Group A victory, which sealed a spot in the quarter-finals against the US in Wrexham this Saturday.

It’s understood Slater was not injured in Monday morning’s incident in Manchester and he is unlikely to press charges, but no Australian players or officials have made further comment on the issue.