‘I think this was premeditated'
RLG: Peter Badel joined the NRL 360 boys to breakdown the biggest story in rugby league after Billy Slater's shock response to Aaron Woods' 'grub' comment.
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Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
State of Origin news: Emotional Queensland coach Billy Slater tees off on Aaron Woods' ‘grub' comments, NSW Blues
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. A visibly emotional Billy Slater has fired back at Aaron Woods and referenced the late Paul Green after the former NSW prop labelled the current Queensland coach a 'grub'. In an attempt to rile up Queenslanders ahead of Wednesday's must-win Origin clash in Perth, Woods took it upon himself to recreate the rivalry of last year's series. The Triple M radio host took pot shots at Slater over his move to axe Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. When asked if he was surprised about the comments at a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Slater initially replied: 'Do you really want me to answer that?' When he was pushed for an answer, the former Storm fullback appeared to have carefully prepared his response, stating that he knows 34-year-old Woods personally and questioned his position in the media. Watch Billy Slater's comments in the video player above Billy Slater (left) and Cameron Munster addressing the media in Perth. (Photo by) 'When you hold a position in the media or in our game, I feel that's a privilege and with that privilege comes a responsibility,' the Channel 9 commentator began. 'I sit in that position most weeks and you amplify your voice to millions of people. You're not talking to your mates in the pub. 'Now, I know Aaron Woods. I actually ran into him about three or four weeks ago at a footy game and he didn't voice that opinion then. 'He actually brought his son over and introduced him to me. 'And I get the attention in our game. I get that. Our game creates attention, but there's a responsibility with that attention, all right? 'When you degrade someone personally in a derogatory manner, you probably don't deserve one of those privileged positions that you're all in, that we're all in.' Aaron Woods finished his playing career in the NSW Cup. Photo: NRL Photos / Brett Costello The press conference was held in a public, outdoor forum and Slater's comments received some applause from the crowd. But the 41-year-old wasn't finished and gave some insights into his emotional response when he referenced former Maroons coach Green, who held the position for one year before Slater and tragically took his own life in 2022. 'I'm not done yet,' Slater continued. 'You don't know what people are going through and although I might be able to handle it, the next person mightn't be. 'Maybe our last coach (Green) didn't. 'I believe the character of a person is judged more on what they say about people and how they treat people than what an individual says to create attention about someone. 'There's your answer.' X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Slater received more applause from the crowd after his blistering, emotional response. Last week, Woods believed Slater had abandoned Queensland's renowned 'pick and stick' mentality following the Game 1 loss in Brisbane. 'To me that's p**s poor form from Billy Slater,' Woods said on Triple M. 'After Game 1 in your press conference you said it wasn't about the personnel, you said you didn't play too well. 'You've come out and axed your captain Daly Cherry-Evans. You've said it wasn't a scapegoat, but mate it's a scapegoat. 'It's so funny because you watch these blokes up north and they say we don't get Origin and they use this pick and stick mentality. Well Billy you've just turned on your skipper. Paul Green coached Queensland for one series in 2021. (Photo by) 'I want to see the real Billy Slater come out – the grub that we know of. This is a bloke who kicked John Skandalis in the head and got a six-week suspension.' The developments were discussed on NRL 360 on Tuesday night, with panellists Paul Crawley and Dean Ritchie both questioning whether Slater had crossed a line by mentioning Green's name. They also queried whether the 'grub' comment was strong enough to push Slater to make his remarks. The Courier-Mail had a front-page headline of 'Smash this Blues grub' in reference to NSW enforcer Spencer Leniu prior to this year's Game 1. Journalist Peter Badel, who put the Woods question to Slater at the press conference, was asked about it all on the Fox League show. Aaron Woods is expected to respond to Slater's comments on Wednesday. (Photo by) 'It was quite amazing,' he said. 'To be honest I expected him to dead bat the question as he tends to do. 'The response … I don't think any of us expected it. It was pretty dramatic, it was pretty cutting, it was a withering attack on Aaron Woods. 'He inferred that he was two-faced, suggested it was degrading and as a commentator he should consider his position moving forward. 'Then the bombshell moment, he didn't mention Paul Green personally but did mention Queensland's last coach. 'If he had his time again, maybe he doesn't mention Paul Green's name.' Back in 2021 Green lost his opening two matches in charge of Queensland, 50-6 and 26-0, before winning Game 3 20-18 during a series impacted by Covid. The former Queensland and NRL halfback then took his own life aged 49 in August the following year. Billy Slater and NSW counterpart Laurie Daley shake hands in Perth. (Photo by) Woods is now expected to respond to Slater's comments on his radio show on Wednesday. Queensland great Gorden Tallis also teed off on Woods' comments on Sunday, while the Maroons' new captain Cameron Munster was also asked about the incident at Tuesday's press conference. 'When you've got a guy like Billy Slater as your coach and what he's done in the game, it does hurt a little bit, especially the comments from someone in particular,' he said. 'At the end of the day, they're in the media and we've got a lot of pressure on us at the moment. He is copping a lot of slack, but he's doing everything he can. 'We need to stand up for him and we've got to do that tomorrow night.' Queensland need to win the second Origin game to keep the series alive and avoid a second straight series loss. Woods, who played 14 games for NSW between 2013 and 2017, was blasted by Tallis on Triple M's Sunday Sin Bin program. Tallis called out Woods' character during his time as a player compared to his career now in media. 'He got sacked from six clubs so he knows what it feels like and when Queensland start listening to a bloke that played his last six years in reserve grade, we've got problems,' Tallis said. 'He wasn't that brave when he was a player, he's braver on the mic. That's a good comeback, isn't it? Queensland legend Gorden Tallis didn't take kindly to Woods' comments. Pics Tara Croser. 'He wouldn't have said that when he was playing, so that's my point.' Woods doubled down when explaining his comments, while sitting next to Tallis, on NRL 360 on Monday. 'It's been a real poor build up to Origin. Game 1 was pretty boring, I thought the standard, the intensity on the field, the referee blew the pea out of the whistle and the game just didn't live up to what I thought it was going to be,' Woods said. 'So I just thought someone needed to say something, ruffle up a few feathers.' But Woods believes Queensland shouldn't need a retired ex-player to ignite them for an Origin matchup. 'If they're relying on me to say some words and use that as motivation, I think that's pretty disappointing for a Queenslander,' Woods said. Originally published as An emotional Billy Slater tees off on Aaron Woods' 'grub' comments
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Don't think they're good enough'
CRI: Brendan Jullian has come out on The Back Page stating that Marnus Labuschagne should be dropped for Australia's upcoming Test series in the West Indies stating that he is one of a few top order batsmen he doesn't think are good enough for the level.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Socceroos midfielder Ryan Teague being pursued by Wrexham and two Belgian clubs
Wrexham's push for promotion to the English Premier League could involve Socceroo Ryan Teague. It's understood that the Welsh outfit owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney is one of three clubs in the hunt for the Melbourne Victory midfielder. Also in contention to sign the 23-year-old FIFA World Cup hopeful are Belgian top-flight clubs Gent and KV Mechelen. If Teague chooses Wrexham – who have secured promotion three seasons in succession to earn a berth in the 2025-26 English Championship – he could line up against the Victory next month when the Red Dragons tour Australia and New Zealand to meet the Melbourne club, Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix. Meanwhile, clubs from Germany, Austria, Belgium and England remain in the race to sign striker Noah Botic, whose Western United contract expires this month. Botic scored 16 goals in 29 appearances during United's 2024-25 A-League campaign, including a hat-trick in a 3-2 elimination final win over Adelaide United. The 23-year-old marksman has been linked with a move to Bundesliga outfit St. Pauli, the club of Socceroos pair Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe. However, Botic won't be joining Irvine and Metcalfe at the German top-flight club. Elsewhere, former Melbourne City right-back Callum Talbot has joined Macarthur FC on a multi-year deal. 'I feel the Bulls really aligned with my personal goals and what I want to achieve for not only myself but of the club,' said Talbot, who parted ways with City last week after being part of the club's A-League championship-winning squad. And Talbot is expected to be joined at the Bulls by former City teammate Harry Politidis, with the 22-year-old left-back also having departed the Melbourne club next week. Socceroos midfielder Anthony Caceres, who is yet to sign a new deal with Sydney FC, has also been strongly linked with a move to Macarthur. Elsewhere, Brisbane Roar have signed Switzerland-born former Bosnian under-21 international midfielder Milorad Stajic on a two-year deal. Stajic, 23, has spent the past two seasons with Serbian top-flight outfit Radnicki Nis. 'The city of Brisbane looks to be a beautiful place to play football, and I am looking forward to putting on the jersey and representing the great fans there this season,' Stajic said.
