State of Origin 2024: Billy Slater refuses to fall for NSW Blues’ mind games before Game 2

Queensland coach Billy Slater has refused to be baited by NSW ahead of State of Origin II, fending off probing questions in a robust precursor to the explosive MCG showdown.

Billy Slater refused to be dragged into . Picture: Mark Stewart

Billy Slater says he won’t let NSW rival Michael Maguire’s mind games derail Queensland as the Maroons coach declared his star fullback Reece Walsh will carry no “demons” into Origin II.

Maguire and Slater shook hands at the official press conference on Tuesday in Melbourne, just days after the NSW coach needled his Maroons counterpart with his “glass houses” comment.

It was a veiled reference to Slater’s lengthy rap sheet as a player - he was charged 10 times and served 13 weeks in suspensions - after the Maroons coach described Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s hit on Reece Walsh in Origin I as “sickening”.

Maguire and Slater have known each other for two decades. The former was a Storm assistant coach between 2004-09 at a time when the latter emerged as one of Melbourne’s superstars.

Maguire’s Origin coaching debut in Sydney turned into a horror show as the Blues were belted 38-10 at Accor Stadium and he is under pressure to save the series before 90,000 fans at the MCG on Wednesday night.

But the ice-cool Slater won’t be sucker-punched by the “noise” sparked by Maguire, with the Maroons mentor dismissing talk of a feud as he channels his energy into steering Queensland to a hat-trick of Origin titles.

“We’re OK,” Slater said with a grin when asked about his relationship with Maguire.

“We’re actually not playing, I don’t know if you know that, our days are gone.

“To be honest I didn’t feel it (Maguire’s comment) was directed at me.

“I have 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 (on Wednesday night).

“We’ve done our due diligence on the opposition, but the real focus is on us.

“For me to play my part in that, it’s keeping my head away from that noise and making sure I’m doing my job for the team.”

The Maroons wrapped-up preparations with their captain’s run at the MCG on Tuesday afternoon.

Just four Queenslanders have played at the cavernous oval-shaped iconic venue: Ben Hunt, Valentine Holmes, Felise Kaufusi and skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.

The other 13 are strangers to the vast expanses of the MCG, including fullback superstar Walsh, who has been cleared by Maroons medicos following his heavy concussion in Origin I.

There are fears the Blues will target Walsh again, but Slater is confident the 21-year-old will not be gun shy in his fourth Origin appearance.

Walsh is NSW’s Origin bogeyman - he has a perfect 3-0 record - and Slater says his fullback protege’s mind is crystal clear.

“That’s the first time I have thought about demons and Reece Walsh,” Slater said when asked if he has any concerns about the Maroons young gun’s mindset.

“He has been incredible all week.

“He was incredible in his preparation for Game One and he started well in Game One and I expect no different.

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

“It’s been a pleasure to help him do that this week and I’m looking forward to him getting his game on.”

Slater defended not having a back on his bench for Game Two after the scratching of Broncos centre Selwyn Cobbo, who was superb off interchange in Origin I.

“Kurt Capewell can play in the centres, so that in effect is an outside back on the bench,” he said.

“He (Capewell) has done a great job for Queensland in the past and they were the cards that were dealt when we selected the team, so we do the best possible job we can do for Queensland.

“The boys will get to perform in front of nearly 100,000 people, that’s exciting for them. They are pretty keen to get to the MCG, test the conditions out and go and perform.”