Maroons won’t stand in way of Billy Slater quitting Queensland to coach in the NRL
With the Dragons and Storm thought to be in the coaching market soon Queensland mentor Billy Slater is a man in demand, and the QRL have made their position clear.
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Queensland Rugby League bosses will not stand in the way of Billy Slater if the Maroons mentor has aspirations to coach in the NRL.
QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher told News Corp he would reluctantly sever ties with Slater as Melbourne prepare to ramp-up their coaching succession plan following the Storm icon’s decision to knock back the Dragons.
Slater is off-contract with the QRL at the end of this year’s Origin series and Hatcher has kicked-off preliminary talks in a bid to extend the Maroons coach for 2024 and beyond.
But Slater has advised the QRL he wants to wait until the completion of the 2023 campaign before he entertains an extension, raising the prospect of the Storm targeting their club legend to replace Craig Bellamy next season.
While Slater’s decision to reject the Dragons suggests he has no desire to become an NRL head coach, he may make a concession for the Storm given his special links to the club and the fact he lives in Melbourne.
The QRL has set a precedent with releasing Origin coaches.
Kevin Walters was contracted as Maroons coach until the end of 2021, but was granted a compassionate release by the QRL to enable him to take charge of the Broncos.
Hatcher believes Slater has the skill set to become a long-term Origin mentor but says he would fully support the 39-year-old if he wanted to test himself in the cutthroat world of NRL coaching.
“If Billy wanted to coach the Storm, or in the NRL, we would totally understand that,” Hatcher said.
“As disappointing as it would be to lose Billy, we wouldn’t stand in his way.
“I’m hopeful Billy is the Origin coach this year and next, but Craig Bellamy has indicated this could be his last season and Billy already has a role (as a specialist coach) with the Storm.
“He hasn’t put a foot wrong for Queensland. His views are strong, his methods are thorough and his relationship with the Queensland players last year was first class.
“I believe he has the work ethic to succeed as an NRL coach, but he has other business interests away from football so the workload might be too great.”
An unproven commodity in coaching, Slater was a revelation in his rookie year with the Maroons last season, blooding seven debutants and orchestrating a stunning 2-1 series boilover of the Blues.
That performance – coupled with Slater’s pedigree as a player, fierce work ethic and sharp tactical mind – suggests he can parlay his Origin success into NRL coaching.
Before his Origin debut last year, Slater told News Corp he had not ruled out coaching in the NRL.
“You never say never I guess,” he said at the time.
“But I know how much work goes into being an NRL coach.
“I know how much I am putting into this and this is just three Origin games.
“If you want to be good at something you have to dedicate your life to it and I have done that throughout my career as a player.
“I have a bit going on in my life in terms of media commitments.
“I really enjoy my commitments at Channel 9, I love going to the footy and talking about the game.
“I live on a farm with a small thoroughbred breeding business and the kids are at an age where I enjoy going to their sport.
“I would be giving up a whole heap to be an NRL coach and NRL coaches make so many sacrifices.
“Sometimes it’s easy to say one guy should be sacked, but for NRL coaches, this is their life, it’s not their occupation, it’s their life and it comes at a cost.
“Right now, with my life I am happy with the balance I have.”
Asked by News Corp a fortnight ago if he would consider coaching the Storm in the post-Bellamy era, Slater said: “Look, that club means a whole heap to me and I’m already contributing to the Storm in a part-time capacity.
“I am living in the now and what I have in front of me and that’s the 2023 Origin series.
“That’s where I’m at and that’s what I’m focusing on at the moment.
“Footy is footy, I’m very fortunate to do what I do, the coaching and the commentary.
“I’m very lucky to be doing what I’m doing and my immediate focus is the Queensland side.”
Losing Slater would be a crushing blow for the Maroons.
The QRL has a dearth of genuine coaching contenders and are hoping Slater can be a long-term option to give the Maroons hierarchy time to develop a healthy pool of Origin mentors.
Slater’s assistants are legendary duo Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston, while his other right-hand man, Josh Hannay, helps Craig Fitzgibbon at the Sharks and would be a viable contingency.
BILLY SLATER WEIGHS UP JOB OFFERS
- Brent Read
On the eve of his retirement two years ago, Parramatta and Nine Network legend Peter Sterling revealed how close he came to a career in coaching rather than the commentary box.
The Illawarra job, Sterling said, was effectively his for the taking – he had all but agreed to take charge of the Steelers but changed his mind a day later.
He was also on the radar of the Western Reds when they came into the competition but after speaking to people in his inner circle, Sterling decided he didn’t need the stress of coaching and opted to continue with his broadcasting career.
He later called it the best decision he ever made because commentating allowed him to maintain contact with the game and its players without enduring the stress of being a head coach.
It’s now the turn of one of his former commentary teammates to face a similar conundrum. Billy Slater is a man in hot demand, as evidenced by St George Illawarra’s decision to recently raise their interest with his management.
You can’t blame the Dragons for throwing a Hail Mary as they weigh up their options should they decide to move on from Anthony Griffin. Yet Slater – or at least his management – are too smart to shuffle him into that job at this point in his career.
Regardless, the point is that Slater’s star is fast rising and in a flooded coaching market, he has seemingly vaulted to the front of the queue. One State of Origin series has been enough to convince clubs of his qualities and as he prepares to lead the Maroons’ title defence, he has some decisions to make.
St George Illawarra aren’t the only club eyeing the former Melbourne, Queensland and Australian superstar. The Storm would love him to eventually take over from Craig Bellamy when the master coach decides to stand down, potentially as early as the end of this season.
Slater is one of the greatest players in the game’s history, a man who redefined the fullback position. As he evolved, the position did with him. At the start of his career he relied on instincts. By the end, he had become a student of the game, devising tactics and trick plays to exploit the opposition.
He was a coach-in-waiting long before this playing career came to an end. Some career it was too. Good enough to have him mentioned in the Immortal conversation.
Clubs are now banking on him becoming a coach every bit as good as the player. History suggests it is no sure thing – great playing careers don’t always translate into success as a coach, although they appear a good start.
Consider the Immortals. Wally Lewis’ coaching career wasn’t anything to write home about but there are some pretty impressive resumes in rugby league’s most rarefied dressing room.
Bob Futon was one of the greatest coaches of his era. So to Clive Churchill and Norm Provan. Mal Meninga had mixed success at Canberra before taking charge of Queensland and Australia during periods of sustained success.
The flip side of that argument is that Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy had relatively nondescript playing careers – Bennett did play for Queensland and toured with Australia – yet turned into two of the greatest coaches the game has seen.
Clubs clearly believe Slater will enjoy similar fortunes as he flirts with coaching. He has consistently downplayed the idea of head coaching job in the NRL but in clubland, there is always the hope that he can be worn down.
Slater’s dilemma is this. He has always been the type to relish a challenge – witness the way he drove through the night to trial for the Storm or fought back from career-threatening shoulder injuries – and will he be fulfilled by spending the next 20 years in the commentary box, working as a consultant and breeding horses.
Maybe he will. Perhaps that’s all Billy needs. Maybe he has seen the stress coaching places on life at home and would prefer not to put his young family through the potential pain.
The point is that the interest isn’t going to go away. Slater will be given more opportunities and while he may not be interested in the Dragons, other clubs are sure to knock at his door.
The ball is in Slater’s court. He is committed to Queensland for the upcoming Origin series and then all bets are off. The Maroons have put talks on hold until the series is over and by then, clubs are likely to be queuing up for Slater.
It is a life-changing decision. A phone call to Sterling wouldn’t go astray.
LATRELL CLEARS AIR OVER DOLPHINS POACHING RUMOURS
Latrell Mitchell was among South Sydney’s best players on Thursday night in the Rabbitohs win over the Dolphins, a bittersweet sensation no doubt for seven-time premiership winning coach Wayne Bennett.
Prior to Mitchell extending his contract with South Sydney earlier this year, there were reports that the Dolphins and Bennett could make a move for Mitchell.
Mitchell, however, has revealed that no talks or offer ever came to fruition.
“That is genuine, that is honesty,” Mitchell said. “The only time Wayne ever rings me is [to talk about] cows. I am telling you. That is it.”
Mitchell remains in touch with Bennett and the pair invariably catch up whenever Mitchell heads to Queensland.
“I ring him every time I go up there,” Mitchell said. “I will ring him and say the cows are going good. I have bought cows off him.”
As for the Dolphins, Mitchell isn’t surprised at how well they are going. Thursday night’s loss is only their third this season and the Dolphins sit comfortably in the top eight under the coaching of Bennett, who has added to his legacy by building the club from scratch and turning them into a competitive force within the space of 18 months.
“Wayne knows what to get out of his players,” Mitchell said. “They are trying to build on what their values are. It is exciting for him – he gets to start fresh. He started with the Broncos so it is nothing new to him, he knows the formula. “He is a funny bloke too.”
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Originally published as Maroons won’t stand in way of Billy Slater quitting Queensland to coach in the NRL
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