Billy Slater defensive questions marks linger ahead of State of Origin 2

IN spite of his brilliant performance against the Knights, Billy Slater did not receive the chance to allay the most serious fear of Maroons selectors – his defence.

Billy Slater is on the verge of an Origin return. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

IT WAS not just the margin of an unprecedented 24-point loss at Suncorp Stadium for Queensland last week.

What is doubly unsettling for the Maroons is that NSW denied them the encouragement of finishing well with a view ahead to the return clash in Sydney on June 21.

Defensive stops by James Tedesco (two), Boyd Cordner and Josh Dugan prevented Queensland from gaining a skerrick of scoreboard encouragement from the last 20 minutes when the result had already been decided.

It will have enhanced NSW’s pride in their defensive line, which was breached only once, by a kick, and made them believe they are capable of frustrating Queensland again in Game Two at ANZ Stadium.

Billy Slater could come into the Queensland team for Origin 2.

The solve-all reaction for the Maroons of many has been the selection of Billy Slater at fullback.

Granted, Darius Boyd did miss James Maloney in the movement for first NSW try, but the inclusion of a new fullback is not the first step to rectifying the high rate of missed tackles in the Queensland middle.

As it happened, in Melbourne’s Friday night win, Slater did not receive the chance to allay the most serious fear of Maroons selectors about recalling him – his defence.

The Courier-Mail revealed before State of Origin I that it was Slater’s missed tackles – 23 in nine NRL games – which counted against him being selected nine NRL games into his comeback from shoulder surgery.

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Against Newcastle at AAMI Park on Friday, Slater was required to make only one tackle.

If he is recalled, the most comfortable reshuffle is to pick Boyd at right wing, retain Corey Oates on his left flank and move Dane Gagai to right centre to displace Justin O’Neill.

Among the contenders to be inclusions for the Maroons pack, 20-year-old Coen Hess will have gained admirers from the Cowboys-Titans match on Saturday night and Gold Coast prop Jarrod Wallace should not have lost any for his 48-tackle shift.

Originally published as Billy Slater defensive questions marks linger ahead of State of Origin 2