Billy Slater and Michael Maguire deflect any suggestions of personal beef as State or Origin rivals meet in Melbourne

Rival State of Origin coaches Billy Slater and Michael Maguire shook hands and sat next to each other in Melbourne as tension heats up ahead of game 2.

Queensland coach Billy Slater was quizzed about Michael Maguire’s ‘glass houses’ sledge. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Queensland coach Billy Slater says he’s spent the past nine days blocking out all outside noise, including a “glass houses” barb from NSW rival Michael Maguire, as the two men tried to play down any sense of tension as they came together in Melbourne on Tuesday.

On the eve of the return of State of Origin to the MCG, Maguire was asked several times who the sledge, delivered in the wake of Maroons fullback Reece Walsh being knocked out in the opening match of the series, was aimed at.

But as he deflected, Slater said he didn’t think Maguire was aiming at him anyway and the sideshow had taken up little time in his preparation, knowing a Queensland win on Wednesday night would deliver a third-straight series victory.

While he joked his house had “some” glass in it, Slater was quick to point out why any suggestions of bad blood between himself and Maguire, who was an assistant coach at Melbourne Storm when Slater was a player, meant little anyway.

“We’re actually not playing,” he said.

Billy Slater shakes hands with Michael Maguire at Federation Square. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“To be honest, I didn’t feel it was directed at me, so I’ve kept my head out of the noise this week. I’ve really focused on what my job is and what’s important to me, and that’s helping our players be at their best tomorrow night.

“We’ve had a real focus on us this preparation. We’ve done our due diligence on the opposition, but it’s been a real focus on us, and for me to play my part in that, it’s about keeping my head away from that noise and making sure I’m doing my job.”

Walsh will return to the Queensland line-up after playing only seven minutes in game 1 and Slater said he hadn’t even considered that the star fullback would have any “demons” after the heavy collision that resulted in a four-game ban for NSW centre Joseph Sua’ali’i.

Slater also said any talk of the NSW players targeting Walsh again was beyond his control and not something the Maroons were thinking about.

“That’s the first time I have thought about demons for Reece Walsh,” he said.

“He’s been incredible all week. He was incredible in his preparation for game 1, started the game really well in game 1 and I expect no different.

“I love the way that he plays. I love the attributes that he has in his game, and I love the way that he works hard to go after it.

“So it’s been a pleasure to help him do that this week and looking forward to him getting his game on tomorrow night.”

Slater is a big fan of Reece Walsh. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Slater said while the Blues had to play out game 1 a man down because of Sua’ali’i’s send-off, he said losing Walsh threw out the Queensland plans as well, and having him back in the line-up would make them a scarier proposition at the MCG.

“I thought NSW were really brave and courageous the way that they fought hard and it’s not easy with 12 men; we know that for a 10-minute period, let alone a 70-minute period, so we understand the situation,” he said.

“But there’s parts of our game that we weren’t able to implement either with a reshuffle of positions and that sort of stuff. I know we had an outside back on the bench but that’s not how we prepared, so it’s going to be a vastly different game.

“Both sides will take a lot out of that first game and be pretty confident going into the second one.”

Originally published as Billy Slater and Michael Maguire deflect any suggestions of personal beef as State or Origin rivals meet in Melbourne