State of Origin 2023: Maroons stars urge Billy Slater to stay on as coach

As Billy Slater remains off-contract after leading Queensland to another State of Origin triumph, Maroons stars have urged their coach to stay and be part of the state’s next dynasty.

Billy Slater chats to Ben Ikin.

Queensland’s all-conquering Origin stars have appealed to off-contract coach Billy Slater to re-sign and continue at the helm of the Maroons juggernaut as they target a new dynasty.

Slater’s coaching stocks have risen after Queensland claimed back-to-back Origin series wins with an emphatic 32-6 victory against the NSW Blues at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.

He boasts a 4-1 record after five games in charge of the Maroons and joins Kevin Walters (2016-17), Mal Meninga (2006-07) and Arthur Beetson (1982-83) as Queensland coaches to have won their first two series.

Slater will have the opportunity to complete a rare 3-nil clean sweep — not seen since Queensland’s 2010 domination — when the series concludes at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on July 12.

Jeremiah Nanai was another successful selection by Billy Slater for Game 2.

And the Maroons are hoping this is just the beginning of Slater’s Maroon reign.

The Queensland Rugby League is ready to kick-off contract extension talks with Slater, who wants to wait until the series is completed, and Maroons star Cameron Munster urged the 31-Origin great to extend.

“I didn’t know he was off contract, they’d obviously be offering him the house at the moment,” he said.

“He has been massive and has instilled so much belief in this team. He gives us all simple jobs and simple roles and everyone goes out and just does it. That is our standard.

“He has got such a young group as well. I am probably one of the oldest coming through with Benny Hunt and ‘Chez (Daly Cherry-Evans). It is scary to think. This team has a bright future.

Cameron Munster and Billy Slater at training.

“He is just so diligent at what he does. I am pretty sure he has his own office at home with TVs all round. He’s watching footage. He is just footy mad.

“When you have someone like that who wants to do their best for the team it just makes you want to be great for him. It just filters down from the top to the bottom and that is why this team has been so good.”

Slater took on Queensland’s top job following the Maroons’ 2-1 series loss in 2021.

He assembled an all-star coaching team including Origin greats Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Nate Myles along with experienced NRL tactician Josh Hannay.

Slater has been linked with Melbourne’s coaching job, but the Storm appear to be grooming Jason Ryles to replace Craig Bellamy in the coming years.

With the Storm’s plans emerging, Hannay said he would be stunned if Slater walked away from the Maroons as a golden era loomed.

Billy Slater with Maroons assistant coaches Josh Hannay and Johnathan Thurston.

“What you’ve seen over the last two years with this Queensland side is quite amazing,” he said.

“They’re playing like a group that’s played 20 Origins together. Outside of Daly, Benny Hunt and Cam Munster, they’re such a young group but they’re playing with such poise. For such a young group to be doing that is amazing.

“I’d be surprised if Bill isn’t in it for the long haul here. I feel like we’ve started something and I’d be really shocked if he walked away at this point.

“There is so much ahead of these guys. It’s literally the tip of the iceberg.

Xavier Coates celebrates scoring during Game 2.

“We love how they represent themselves every day. We judge them by what they do on the field, but you should see these guys day in, day out. How they are around people, how they treat people and carry themselves. They’re such humble, wonderful young men.

“It’s not just about the performance and product. It’s a real privilege to work with these guys and Bill knows that. He’s been a big part of building it.”

Slater, 40, has ushered in a new generation of Maroons in the likes of Selwyn Cobbo, Murray Taulagi, Jeremiah Nanai, Reuben Cotter, Pat Carrigan and Tom Dearden.

The bulk of the squad that has blitzed the Blues over the past two series will still be around in the next five-10 years, giving Queensland an opportunity to create a new dynasty following the decade of dominance from 2006-17, when the Maroons won nine of 10 series under Meninga.

Reuben Cotter is full of praise for Billy Slater.

Origin specialist Cotter said Slater had been a revelation.

“If Billy wants to go down the NRL path, I have no doubt he could do it, but right now I hope he stays with us,” he said.

“Billy has been enormous for this team. He is one of the greatest coaches I have played under.

“It’s just what he does with the group of boys. His style is very different to everyone, it is very motivating.

“He is one of the best players to play the game and so are a lot of the coaching staff like Cam Smith and Johnathan Thurston. We all have massive respect for them and that’s where it comes from. We don’t want to let them down and we don’t want to let each other down.

“It’s the way Billy looks at the game. He is really big on re-earning our jersey every game.

“That competitive style of footy, the effort on effort stuff, he is big on those one percenters and winning the small moments.”

Originally published as State of Origin 2023: Maroons stars urge Billy Slater to stay on as coach