Billy Slater apologises to Paul Green's family following emotional reference in State of Origin press conference

Sky News AU

4 hours ago

Billy Slater has apologised to the family of Paul Green after referencing the late Queensland coach during an emotional State of Origin press conference on Tuesday in Perth.
The Queensland coach's apology was in response to his retort to former New South Wales forward Aaron Woods called him a 'grub' on Sydney's Triple M, in the lead up to the second encounter between Queensland and New South Wales on Wednesday.
When Slater was asked by the media on Tuesday about Woods' barb, he referred to Green during the press conference.
Slater implied Green, who took his own life in 2022, had not been able to handle the pressures of coaching and public criticism.
"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 didn't," he said in the controversial moment on Tuesday.
After his death it was revealed Green had been suffering with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Following public backlash on Wednesday morning Slater held a press conference to apologise for the reference of Green.
'Yesterday, I wrongly made the link between Paul Green's death and the stress and pressures of coaching, which wasn't accurate, nor was it appropriate,' Slater said.
'I feel terrible about what I said. I spoke to Amanda Green this morning and apologised for any hurt that may have caused her and her family.
'Paul had CTE, which is a different disease to what I was referring to. Once again, I'm deeply and genuinely sorry.'
Green''s death came one year after coaching Queensland in 2021.
Woods didn't mince his words on Wednesday morning on Triple M, suggesting Slater's reference was 'completely unnecessary'.
'I (made) those comments last Tuesday, so that was a week ago,' Woods said.
'I stand by them. It's part of something I said in the lead-up to this game. (Slater) has had seven days to reply. He's taken his time. He's been very well thought out. He's been very measured in what he's had to say.
'A lot of his comments I agree with. You've got to have an opinion, whether it's good or bad. It's a hard position he is in at the moment.
'You've got to take out he's lost game one of the series, up in Queensland, he's coming off a losing series, which was a decider in Queensland as well, so he is under a lot of pressure.
'But one particular comment he did make, I just thought Billy went a bit over the boundary, and I thought it was completely unnecessary for the situation. I don't really care about Queensland.'
After losing Game I, 18-6 at Suncorp Stadium, Slater is under intense pressure for Origin II, with Queensland needing to win so they can secure a series-decider at Accor Stadium in Sydney on July 9.
A loss at Optus Stadium against the Blues would make Slater the first Maroons coach since 1996-97 to lose four consecutive State of Origin matches.
Game II of this year's State of Origin kicks off Wednesday night at 6:05pm AWST, 7:35pm ACST and 8:05pm AEST.