Billy The Kid looks out of bullets as Maroons faces another Origin defeat
To say Billy Slater is well-loved by Queenslanders is an understatement. As if Romeo had only a passing interest in Juliet. Or, to a fresh batch of biscuits, the Cookie Monster wouldn't say no.
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There is good reason, too. Slater's playing career sparkles with highlights as much as honours. Millions followed his journey as humble roustabout from Nambour to the heights of rugby league, never losing his endearing identity as Billy 'The Kid'. He proved himself to be a Maroons great, one of the symbols in Queensland's most successful Origin era.
Since retiring in 2018, his legend has only grown. He has shown to be an adept analyst on broadcasts, often speaking in front of AAMI Park's Billy Slater Stand. His business as a thoroughbred breeder goes from strength to strength. His performance as a horse-riding TV compère at last year's Melbourne Cup carnival was the highlight of Channel Nine's coverage. And of course, as a rookie coach, he masterminded Queensland victories in his first two Origin series.
In this context, the crowd's affection for him on Wednesday night is to be expected. But after New South Wales' largely one-sided victory in the State of Origin opener, it's clear love can only do so much. 'I feel pretty flat, to be honest, about our performance', he said after the 18-6 defeat.
The result was hardly a thrashing, and for Slater there were positive signs. Winger Xavier Coates was a constant aerial threat and backrower Jeremiah Nanai was a willing combatant. Debutant Robert Toia was targeted by the Blues and forced into 24 tackles (the Maroons' other centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow made just seven) but the rookie missed just three and was tidy with the ball. 'I thought his debut was great, so he can hold his head up high,' Slater said.
But in truth, there is just as much cause for concern. The Blues went in as favourites, and were far from their best themselves. Five-eighth Mitch Moses, catalyst for the Blues' resurgence in last year's series, was mostly a bystander. Latrell Mitchell ran for just 58m, Liam Martin even less. Spencer Leniu played just 26 minutes.
The Maroons coach believes the fans at Suncorp 'didn't see the best of this Queensland team' on Thursday. That 'it's definitely not a personnel thing'. That he knows 'what this team's capable of'. But it's becoming difficult to understand what he sees.
In the past four Origin matches, the Maroons have scored 10 tries. Half of those came in the one match, after the Joseph Aukuso Sua'ali'i send-off in Sydney last year. Another three came in the second half of the MCG clash in which they trailed 34-0 at half-time. Wednesday's lone try came directly from a Latrell Mitchell handling error.
The last time the Maroons crafted their own a four-pointer in a tight contest against a full Blues contingent was in the fifth minute of last year's series, when Ben Hunt crossed from Daly Cherry-Evans' blindside sneak.
The 36-year-old halfback became the oldest Origin player on Wednesday, but admitted the poor attacking return means his place in the team is now a matter of debate. 'We've opened ourselves up to these sorts of questions,' Cherry-Evans said. 'But yeah, I'd love the opportunity to come back and correct it.'
The coach said he too faces the same pressures. 'It's not just the players, it's everyone, and we'll all look at ourselves.' He said he still believes in the group, that the attitude of the squad was right even if their indiscipline let them down. And he said he feels responsible to help them find their best football.
Slater has spent two decades taking rugby league by the scruff of the neck. But after three straight Origin defeats, this series might be out of his hands. 'At the end of the day,' he admitted, 'it's got to come from the players'.
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