Queensland coach Billy Slater issues apology for Paul Green reference in emotional press conference
Billy Slater has issued a public apology after linking late Queensland coach Paul Green to a comment made by former NSW prop Aaron Woods.
Slater was asked to respond to being called a "grub" by Woods on Sydney radio, and was visibly emotional when making a reference to Green, who died in 2022.
However, the 41-year-old called a snap press conference on Wednesday morning in Perth ahead of game two of the State of Origin series, and apologised for referencing Green.
"Yesterday I wrongly made the link between Paul Green's death and the stress and pressures of coaching, which wasn't accurate and nor was it appropriate,'' he said.
"I feel terrible about what I said and I spoke to (Green's wife) Amanda Green this morning and apologised for any hurt it may have caused her or her family.
"I just want to say this, Paul had CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), that is a different disease to what I was referring to.
"I am deeply and genuinely sorry.''
Post-mortem scans on Green's brain revealed he had a severe form of CTE.
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