Latest news with #CoryPaterson
Daily Mail
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ex-NRL star who once received shocking sledge from Billy Slater delivers incredible response after Queensland coach's controversial comment about Paul Green
Former Wests Tigers star Cory Paterson has delivered an incredible response after breaking his silence on a shock sledge he once received from Queensland coach Billy Slater. The 37-year-old is currently living in the United States, having hung up his boots in 2019. The incident, which took place 15 years ago, has come to the fore again this week after Slater has been embroiled in a war of words with former NSW prop Aaron Woods. On Tuesday, the Queensland coach appeared to make a controversial comment about the late Paul Green as he attempted to shoot a barb back at Woods. Paterson was playing for Newcastle back in 2009, when he took a leave of absence, announcing that he had been suffering from depression and had revealed that he had previously had suicidal thoughts. He would later return to the footy pitch and the following season, he found himself and former Melbourne Storm fullback, Slater, having to be pulled apart by their team-mates. Melbourne's 20-14 victory over the Knights in 2010, Slater had reportedly told Paterson to 'Go and have a cry in your room.' Paterson (centre) said that there was no ill feeling towards him and Slater, adding that they had hashed out everything immediately after the incident The Maroons boss issued an apology to Paterson immediately after the fact, revealing that he had called the former Newcastle second-row, adding that the pair were on good terms. Paterson has since broken his silence on the matter, stating that there was no bad blood between the two rugby league players. 'What happened between Billy and I was a long time ago,' he told journalist Phil Rothfield, of The Courier Mail. 'We sorted everything out there and then and I have no ill feelings whatsoever towards him. 'I'm sure he has grown a lot as a man over the last 15 years, as I have done. 'The stigma and society have also changed. It's actually pretty unfair to him that people are bringing something up from so long ago that was in a different time and environment.' He also gave an update on how he was doing, revealing: 'I'm good.' 'I'm working in oil and gas as well as doing some coaching here with American footballers and rugby guys. It's all good fun.' Green (left) passed away in 2022. Slater apologised to his wife Amanda (right) for the comments he made on Tuesday Slater stepped out on Wednesday to apologise unreservedly to Paul Green's family after he appeared to link the former Queensland coach's death to a mental health issue rather than Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. 'Although I might be able to handle [criticism], the next person mightn't be. Maybe our last coach [Green] didn't,' Slater had said, during a press conference. Woods had appeared to question Slater's character, referencing how he once kicked John Skandalis in the head during a game back in 2006. Slater, meanwhile, apologised to Green's family, with his widow, Amanda, breaking her silence on the matter last week, lumping praise on Slater for his bravery. 'To begin with, I would like to say how very courageous it was of Billy to call me, completely unprompted, yesterday,' Green said in a statement to The Courier Mail. 'My heart breaks for Billy Slater as a partner of someone who has been in his position. 'I completely understand the pressures of the role. 'It shows a lot about his true character and what a fine role model he is for young men. I commend and admire him for that.' Slater and his side would go on to secure a huge 26-24 victory on Wednesday night, with the Maroons levelling the series 1-1 in Perth.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Shocking mental health sledge from Billy Slater's past comes back to haunt him after his awful comment on footy icon's tragic death
Queensland coach Billy Slater has been slammed by footy fans as a 'hypocrite' for bringing the suicide of footy great Paul Green into his clash with Aaron Woods, as his past sledging of a player with mental health issues resurfaces. Social media users referenced how the Maroons boss had once been forced to apologise to rival Wests Tigers star, Cory Paterson, after taunting him about his struggle with clinical depression during a game in 2010. Last week, Woods branded Slater a 'grub' in a rant about how he was wrong to drop Maroons veteran Daly Cherry-Evens for State of Origin game two. The Triple M presenter then brought up the fact that Slater was once banned for seven games after kicking Wests Tigers forward John Skandalis in the head. That provoked a fiery response from Slater on Tuesday as he blasted Woods by saying: 'You don't know what people are going through. 'And although I might be able to handle it, the next person might not be. Maybe our last coach didn't.' The last remark was a clear reference to Paul Green, who was boss of the Maroons before Slater took over in 2023. Slater issued a public apology for those comments on Wednesday and revealed he'd called Green's widow Amanda to say sorry. Now Slater's sledging of Paterson is coming back to haunt him. In 2009, the former Knights star revealed he had to have a break from the game after his battle with clinical depression left him feeling suicidal Slater then told him to 'go have a cry in your room' during Melbourne's 20-14 victory over the Knights in March 2010. The former Storm star later apologised to Paterson, admitting he 'overstepped the mark'. Footy supporters with long memories were quick to bring up the sledge in light of Slater's remarks about Green. One fan wrote on X: 'Billy Slater is not only a grub, he's a hypocritical grub of the highest order.' Footy fans on social media hit out at Slater following his comments about Green, referencing his sledging of Paterson while claiming the Maroons coach is a 'hypocrite' 'Billy Slater, who once sledged a player suffering depression with the choice words: 'Go and have a cry in your room' is now telling others to watch what they say and pulling the mental health card,' another X user wrote. 'What a COMPLETE grub. Will make it even sweeter when he suffers ANOTHER Origin series loss.' Another footy fan claimed that Slater had tried to claim a moral high ground by bringing Green into the argument. 'Billy Slater exploiting Paul Green's passing to claim some lame moral high ground over a contrived #origin sledge is quite frankly pathetic and probably highlights the reason why he was called a grub during his playing days,' the X user wrote. One footy fan wrote: 'Is this the same Billy Slater that sledged Cory Patterson [sic] about his battles with mental illness? F*** off mate.' After the game against the Knights in 2010, Slater later revealed he had called Paterson to 'clear the air' and explained that there was 'no ill-feeling' between the pair. He later issued a public apology to Paterson, stating: 'I accept that in the heat of the moment on Saturday night, I overstepped the mark with a flippant comment I directed at Cory Paterson. 'What was said was insensitive given what Cory has been through over the past 18 months.' The former Storm fullback added: 'He accepted my sincerest apology and asked that we leave the issue alone. 'It would be insensitive to Cory for me to repeat what was said. 'The simple fact of the matter is I made an error of judgment and I intend to learn from this. 'I fully understand that depression is a serious mental health issue in Australian society and if anyone has been offended by this incident, I am deeply apologetic.'
