State of Origin 2023: Billy Slater has warned the Blues about the trip North and put his own men on notice
Maroons coach Billy Slater has put his players on notice ahead of Origin II – but he’s also issued a warning across the border for the travelling Blues.
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Billy Slater has put Queensland players on notice as the Maroons coach warned the Blues the Origin cauldron at Suncorp Stadium is more hostile than the NFL’s Super Bowl.
While the Blues have been rocked by the loss of Latrell Mitchell, Queensland’s preparations are purring along with another drama-free session at Sanctuary Cove on Saturday ahead of Origin II at “The Cauldron” on Wednesday night.
Maroons ironman Reuben Cotter had stints on Queensland’s right edge, suggesting he will be promoted off the bench to start in place of Cowboys teammate Jeremiah Nanai.
Queensland are just one win away from wrapping up a second consecutive series win against a Blues side missing Mitchell and star halfback Nathan Cleary, but Slater says he won’t tolerate complacency on home turf.
“I don’t feel comfortable at all, no way,” Slater said.
“I didn’t feel comfortable coming into the series and I don’t feel comfortable going into Game Two.
“As a player, I never felt comfortable going into big games.
“If you feel comfortable at this level, you are in a dangerous place.
“It’s great to be at Suncorp, but no one in the crowd can play the footy bar us, so our guys have to make sure they uphold their end of the bargain.”
The Blues face a monumental task denying Queensland back-to-back titles.
Of the past 41 Origin series, the state that has triumphed in Game One has gone on to win 31 times, putting the Maroons in the box seat.
Since Brad Fittler took over as coach of NSW in 2018, the Blues have never won a series after losing the first game – and now they face 50,000 rabid Queensland fans at Suncorp Stadium.
“It is the best atmosphere in terms of sport in the world,” Slater said.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to go to a Super Bowl and it has nothing on an Origin game at Suncorp.
“The Queenslanders will bring the atmosphere and they will bring the environment.
“It’s really important we bring our game and we get it right. That’s our role in all of this is to get our preparation right and get our performance right.
“The Blues will be desperate ... but we will be desperate too.”
Maroons lock Pat Carrigan dismissed suggestions the Blues were no hope of saving the series without centre superstar Mitchell and the NRL’s No.1 halfback Cleary.
“I thought Steven Crichton (Mitchell’s replacement) was one of their best players in Game One,” Carrigan said.
“I have a high opinion of Steve, I have seen what he has done on the big stage for Samoa (in last year’s World Cup) and they are still a freaky team, so we won’t be taking Steve or anyone in the Blues lightly.
“It is a massive game.
“Any time you put on a Maroons jersey it is (about) your best performance. It doesn’t feel like we are one up.
“Not for one second will I think there is any easy way (of winning). That is out of not only respect to them (NSW) but out of respect to our fans and coaching staff and personally the standard I want to be at.”
Maroons star eyes new role as Slater considers late switch
– Travis Meyn and Peter Badel
Maroons terrier Reuben Cotter is ready for his next Origin assignment as Queensland coach Billy Slater prepares to unleash ‘Air Nanai’ as a super sub on the Blues.
Cotter could be set for another 80-minute Origin slugfest when Queensland looks to wrap up back-to-back series wins at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
Cotter has played 160 minutes in his two Origin appearances for Queensland, producing remarkable performances in the Maroons’ engine room.
He was recognised for his efforts with a man-of-the-match award in Queensland’s game one win in Adelaide a fortnight ago, where he made a game-high 43 tackles.
Now Cotter is set for another challenge as Slater considers starting him on Queensland’s right edge, where he was shifted to after Tom Gilbert dislocated his shoulder in Adelaide.
That would move freakish backrower Jeremiah Nanai to the bench, with Slater to inject him as NSW is fatiguing, allowing Cotter to go back to his usual spot in the middle forwards.
Nanai has only played one game in the past seven weeks due to suspension and could be lacking the match fitness needed to punch out 80 quality minutes in the Origin furnace.
Cotter, 24, said he loved playing for Queensland and couldn’t wait to run out at Suncorp Stadium after missing last year’s decider due to injury.
“I love everything, the start of the week, the build-up, the state getting behind us, the training, pulling the jersey on and running out there to a roaring crowd,” he said.
“There’s nothing like it. It’s special every time I get to do it.
“It’s going to be a big game. Suncorp is a great place to hold Origin and it’ll be my first game there.
“I watched game three last year and have never heard anything as loud or felt as close to a game as that. I’m pretty excited.”
Cotter has been an Energizer Bunny for the Cowboys and Maroons, seemingly never running out of juice despite his big minutes and high workload.
The Sarina product said being a smaller forward helped him with fatigue and he had a strong fitness base from his junior days.
“Running around in the backyard playing footy and I used to play a fair bit of footy in school,” he said.
“I’d play school footy on Wednesdays and club footy on the weekend, sometimes up a grade as well.
“I probably got it from mum. She was pretty athletic in her day and still is now. She was a sprinter and long jumper.
“I’m a little bit more mobile being 96kg, that’s probably helped me out a bit.”
Nanai, 20, trumped 14-game Maroons veteran Felise Kaufusi in the race to replace Gilbert.
The Cowboys flyer has been dubbed ‘Air Nanai’ due to his freakish leaping and try-scoring ability.
He featured in all three Origin games last year and was fabulous in his starting debut in the decider.
Nanai has had a frustrating start to the season, serving six games of suspensions, but is ready to repay Slater’s faith on the big stage.
“I haven’t played much footy, I had four weeks off a few before that, I’ve had a rough start,” he said.
“I had thoughts, ups and downs. I’ve worked on a few things. You’ve got to move on and I’ve learnt to keep going forward. It’s a lesson.
“Knowing Billy had faith in me gave me a lot of confidence to do the job on Wednesday is great. I’m very excited, I can’t express it, to be back in this camp again.
“I love playing at Suncorp in front of millions of Maroons. Running out there is crazy seeing all that maroon. It gives me goose bumps and a lot of confidence.”
TROLLS TARGET FAMILY OF QUEENSLAND ENFORCER
Maroons forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has been attacked by online trolls and forced to defend his character after becoming Queensland’s new Origin villain.
Fa’asuamaleaui has opened up about the vile attacks he and his family have received since he was involved in on-field incidents that left NSW hooker Api Koroisau with a broken jaw and Canterbury’s Reed Mahoney concussed.
Fa’asuamaleaui was fined $1000 for the Mahoney hit but the NRL’s match review committee cleared the Gold Coast Titans captain of foul play following the collision which ruled Koroisau out of the remainder of the State of Origin series.
However that has not stopped trolls, ex-players and commentators from attacking Fa’asuamaleaui in the lead-up to Wednesday night’s game two blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium.
Fa’asuamaleaui, 23, has nearly 90,000 followers on Instagram but has switched his profile to private following a barrage of abusive messages.
“I definitely see it,” he said.
“It’s hard not to miss when you get hate comments to you and your family. You definitely don’t miss it.
“Social media has positives and negatives and that’s a negative thing – people can message you anything they want and the media can post whatever they want.
“I’ve got to forget about it, put that aside and use it as motivation to come out and do a job for Queensland.”
Despite being quietly-spoken and a polite father-of-two, Fa’asuamaleaui has become a player NSW loves to hate.
He went toe-to-toe with NSW rival Payne Haas during his debut Origin series in 2020 and infamously put Blues centre Matt Burton in a headlock last year while he was being punched by Dane Gagai.
But those close to Fa’asuamaleaui know what he is really like. That is why he was appointed captain of the Gold Coast Titans at age 21 and is already a Kangaroos and Queensland representative, who has already played 10 Origin games.
“As long as the people who do know me think that (is what matters),” he said.
“A lot of people can message what they want, but if they meet me and see the real person I am, they will definitely change their minds. The people who know me know I’m a good person.
“When it comes to the game, I play as hard as I can. I’m definitely not changing the way I play.
“I’ve been running like that since I first came into the league and I’m not going to change anything.”
Former NSW Origin pivot Braith Anasta has been one of Fa’asuamaleaui’s chief critics, taking aim at him on Fox League show NRL360 twice this week.
“Is it a coincidence that twice in three weeks the same player (Fa’asuamaleaui) knocks a player out with ball in hand, then breaks another player’s jaw, and he doesn’t miss one game of footy?” said Anasta, who played 10 Origin games for the Blues.
“You know what happens … the next time Tino breaks someone’s jaw, we will be saying maybe there is a problem.”
Long-time manager Simon Mammino has been keeping in close contact with Fa’asuamaleaui in Camp Maroon following the abuse he has copped.
He is a fierce defender of Fa’asuamaleaui’s character and said he would consider reporting the trolls if the abuse escalated or continued.
“There is not a bad bone in Tino’s body,” Mammino said.
“He is respectful to everybody. He just walks on the field and plays hard and tough. He’s not a dirty player and has no record like what’s being mentioned on some TV shows.
“It’s blown up because it’s Origin and Braith Anasta has really stirred it up by driving a segment on Tino two nights in a row on the highest-rating rugby league show. Braith has gone after him twice to highlight his point.
“Tino is right up the top for character and integrity, that’s from his upbringing and why he’s become a leader at a young age beyond his years. There is no arrogance and he is humble. He leads by actions in training and on-field performances.
“It’s very ordinary and unfortunately that’s where these trolls are at and they can get away with it. It’s unfair and uncalled for. They are keyboard warriors hiding.
“You’ve got the mental health issue that comes with the person they’re attacking.
“I will investigate it more and we will look at making complaints. If anyone has crossed the line it will be dealt with.”
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