Queensland coach Billy Slater hits back at Aaron Woods in emotional response to ‘grub' comment
Billy Slater has referenced late Queensland coach Paul Green in delivering a pointed takedown to Aaron Woods over the former NSW prop's 'grub' claims.
In a dramatic precursor to State of Origin II, Slater questioned former NSW forward Woods's right to have a voice in the media after copping heat from him last week.
The under-pressure Maroons coach also played down the spotlight on his own job, as Queensland fight to stay in the series at Optus Stadium in Perth on Wednesday night.
But Slater saved the most poignant response to a question around Woods's comments.
Woods made headlines last week when he labelled Slater a grub on Sydney radio, pointing to the fact he kicked then Wests Tigers prop John Skandalis in a game in 2006.
Asked about the issue on Tuesday, Slater questioned reporters if they really wanted him to answer before unleashing on Woods with a rally-like speech.
'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,' Slater said.
'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.
'I know Aaron Woods.
'I actually ran into him three or four weeks ago at a footy game and he didn't voice that opinion then. He actually brought his son over to introduce him to me.
'When you degrade someone personally in a derogatory manner, you probably don't deserve one of those privileged positions that we're all in.'
Slater was then interrupted by an applause from the crowd at Perth's public press conference, before telling them 'I'm not done yet'.
'You don't know what people are going through,' he continued.
'And although I might be able to handle it, the next person mightn't be. Maybe our last coach 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.'
Green took his own life in 2022, one year after coaching the Maroons in the 2021 series.
A post-mortem found the North Queensland premiership-winning coach had been living with a 'severe' and undiagnosed case of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Tuesday's press conference was expected to centre around Slater's fight to keep the Maroons in the series and avoid a second straight defeat to NSW after last year's capitulation.
Slater has made a number of bold calls ahead of Wednesday night, headlined by the axing of captain Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Dearden's move to the No.7 jersey.
Before a question was even asked by the press at Tuesday's press conference, a member of the crowd yelled out 'you're under pressure Billy'.
'What is pressure? To me, the opposite of pressure is comfort,' Slater said.
'So you're either comfortable or you're in a pressure situation. And I think you earn that opportunity, whether it's a player or a coach.
'To be in this environment, you've earned that pressure. Because it means so much to the people of our states, it means so much to the people involved in the game.
'But of course there's pressure. There was pressure in grand finals. There was pressure in state of origin games and there still is.
'And the day there's no pressure, I'll be a bit worried.'
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Courier-Mail
3 hours 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
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Slater says Maroons won't be dictated to on kick-off
A defiant Billy Slater has declared Queensland won't be pressured into kicking off to NSW firebrand Spencer Leniu in State of Origin II. As Maroons prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui said he was not scared of Leniu on Tuesday, Slater would not be drawn on whether the Maroons would kick to the Blues front-rower. Of the four long kick-offs from Queensland in their game one loss, none went to Leniu or Payne Haas, in what has since been labelled by some as a pre-determined plan. The situation left Leniu fuming, with the Sydney Roosters prop appearing to swear in frustration as the Maroons changed the direction of their kick to avoid him. Haas has largely stayed away from the debate over the past week, but on Monday said he would want the ball kicked off to Leniu if he was in the Queensland side, since he'd want the chance to take down a powerful rival. Former NSW front-rower Willie Mason has also accused the Maroons of being "s**t scared" of Leniu, while Braith Anasta labelled Queensland "weak". Slater dodged a question on Tuesday on whether Leniu would have the chance to take a hit-up from a kick-off at Optus Stadium. But the Maroons coach did defend his team's right to prioritise their own tactics over the entertainment factor. "We don't ask Nathan (Cleary) to kick to a specific corner. He does what he wants," Slater said of the Blues halfback. "He gets his game on. So, we'll be getting our game on. "I get all the dilemma about it, but at the end of the day, it's about building a game and a game plan that best suits you. "It's not about what (the media) want or anyone else wants." Asked about the issue, Maroons front-rower Fa'asuamaleaui rejected any suggestion Queensland's pack were scared of Leniu. "I'm not scared of anyone," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "I just want to do my job for Queensland and I'm not going to back down from anyone and that's our whole team. "We're just going to get out there, get our game on and do what we do best and play our game. "(We're) not backing down from anyone." Slater wouldn't say whether Queensland would make late changes to their pack, or if Kurt Mann could start at hooker in place of Harry Grant. The Maroons have won six of eight games when Grant has come off the bench, as opposed to a 0-4 record with him starting. NSW second-rower Angus Crichton had accused Queensland of mind games last week, refusing to believe Jeremiah Nanai and Pat Carrigan weren't starting. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has already let slip that he will move to the right wing at Optus Stadium, after playing left centre in the series-opening 18-6 loss in Brisbane. That defeat has piled the pressure on Slater, who has already axed captain Daly Cherry-Evans and replaced him with Tom Dearden in the halves. A defiant Billy Slater has declared Queensland won't be pressured into kicking off to NSW firebrand Spencer Leniu in State of Origin II. As Maroons prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui said he was not scared of Leniu on Tuesday, Slater would not be drawn on whether the Maroons would kick to the Blues front-rower. Of the four long kick-offs from Queensland in their game one loss, none went to Leniu or Payne Haas, in what has since been labelled by some as a pre-determined plan. The situation left Leniu fuming, with the Sydney Roosters prop appearing to swear in frustration as the Maroons changed the direction of their kick to avoid him. Haas has largely stayed away from the debate over the past week, but on Monday said he would want the ball kicked off to Leniu if he was in the Queensland side, since he'd want the chance to take down a powerful rival. Former NSW front-rower Willie Mason has also accused the Maroons of being "s**t scared" of Leniu, while Braith Anasta labelled Queensland "weak". Slater dodged a question on Tuesday on whether Leniu would have the chance to take a hit-up from a kick-off at Optus Stadium. But the Maroons coach did defend his team's right to prioritise their own tactics over the entertainment factor. "We don't ask Nathan (Cleary) to kick to a specific corner. He does what he wants," Slater said of the Blues halfback. "He gets his game on. So, we'll be getting our game on. "I get all the dilemma about it, but at the end of the day, it's about building a game and a game plan that best suits you. "It's not about what (the media) want or anyone else wants." Asked about the issue, Maroons front-rower Fa'asuamaleaui rejected any suggestion Queensland's pack were scared of Leniu. "I'm not scared of anyone," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "I just want to do my job for Queensland and I'm not going to back down from anyone and that's our whole team. "We're just going to get out there, get our game on and do what we do best and play our game. "(We're) not backing down from anyone." Slater wouldn't say whether Queensland would make late changes to their pack, or if Kurt Mann could start at hooker in place of Harry Grant. The Maroons have won six of eight games when Grant has come off the bench, as opposed to a 0-4 record with him starting. NSW second-rower Angus Crichton had accused Queensland of mind games last week, refusing to believe Jeremiah Nanai and Pat Carrigan weren't starting. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has already let slip that he will move to the right wing at Optus Stadium, after playing left centre in the series-opening 18-6 loss in Brisbane. That defeat has piled the pressure on Slater, who has already axed captain Daly Cherry-Evans and replaced him with Tom Dearden in the halves. A defiant Billy Slater has declared Queensland won't be pressured into kicking off to NSW firebrand Spencer Leniu in State of Origin II. As Maroons prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui said he was not scared of Leniu on Tuesday, Slater would not be drawn on whether the Maroons would kick to the Blues front-rower. Of the four long kick-offs from Queensland in their game one loss, none went to Leniu or Payne Haas, in what has since been labelled by some as a pre-determined plan. The situation left Leniu fuming, with the Sydney Roosters prop appearing to swear in frustration as the Maroons changed the direction of their kick to avoid him. Haas has largely stayed away from the debate over the past week, but on Monday said he would want the ball kicked off to Leniu if he was in the Queensland side, since he'd want the chance to take down a powerful rival. Former NSW front-rower Willie Mason has also accused the Maroons of being "s**t scared" of Leniu, while Braith Anasta labelled Queensland "weak". Slater dodged a question on Tuesday on whether Leniu would have the chance to take a hit-up from a kick-off at Optus Stadium. But the Maroons coach did defend his team's right to prioritise their own tactics over the entertainment factor. "We don't ask Nathan (Cleary) to kick to a specific corner. He does what he wants," Slater said of the Blues halfback. "He gets his game on. So, we'll be getting our game on. "I get all the dilemma about it, but at the end of the day, it's about building a game and a game plan that best suits you. "It's not about what (the media) want or anyone else wants." Asked about the issue, Maroons front-rower Fa'asuamaleaui rejected any suggestion Queensland's pack were scared of Leniu. "I'm not scared of anyone," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "I just want to do my job for Queensland and I'm not going to back down from anyone and that's our whole team. "We're just going to get out there, get our game on and do what we do best and play our game. "(We're) not backing down from anyone." Slater wouldn't say whether Queensland would make late changes to their pack, or if Kurt Mann could start at hooker in place of Harry Grant. The Maroons have won six of eight games when Grant has come off the bench, as opposed to a 0-4 record with him starting. NSW second-rower Angus Crichton had accused Queensland of mind games last week, refusing to believe Jeremiah Nanai and Pat Carrigan weren't starting. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has already let slip that he will move to the right wing at Optus Stadium, after playing left centre in the series-opening 18-6 loss in Brisbane. That defeat has piled the pressure on Slater, who has already axed captain Daly Cherry-Evans and replaced him with Tom Dearden in the halves.
