Billy Slater went too far with his response to Aaron Woods’ ’grub’ comment

Whether he was seeking to redress a genuinely felt grievance, aiming to establish a psychological edge over his rivals, or to have a go at an opponent, Slater went way too far. Here’s The Tele’s take.

Top-level rugby league is one of the toughest games in the world.

Rugby league also has one of the toughest off-field environments of any global sport.
Players, coaches, administrators, reporters and fans typically go in hard – because that is the nature of the code.

Even so, however, there are boundaries. There are limits to aggression. Put simply, there are rules that all participants generally acknowledge.

Queensland coach Billy Slater – one of the NRL’s greatest stars, and a potential future Immortal – yesterday stepped beyond those off-field boundaries.

Maroons coach Billy Slater at Tuesday’s State of Origin media conference in Perth. Picture: Paul Kane

Whether he was seeking to redress a genuinely felt grievance, aiming to establish a psychological edge over his NSW rivals, or to basically have a go at an opponent, Slater went way too far.

Some background is essential here. Former Blues prop-turned-radio commentator Aaron Woods took a shot last week at Slater, referring to the Queensland coach as a “grub”, who “kicked John Skandalis in the head and got a six-week suspension”.

Tough words, but – as was mentioned earlier – this is a tough caper. Then came Slater’s Tuesday response.

Queensland coach Billy Slater in Perth on Tuesday. Picture: Paul Kane

“When you degrade someone personally in a derogatory manner, you probably don’t deserve one of those privileged positions that you’re all in, that we’re all in,” Slater told assembled media at yesterday’s pre-State of Origin II press conference.

If he’d ended there, Slater would have made his point with considerable force, but also an amount of grace. But he went on.

“Although I might be able to handle it, the next person mightn’t be,” Slater said.

“Maybe our last coach didn’t.”

By “last coach”, Slater referenced the late Queensland coach Paul Green, who took his life in August 2022. In a very unfortunate way, Billy Slater appeared to use the potential for suicide as a barrier to criticism.

The original comment from Woods, which itself was in the context of back-end-forth commentary ahead of the next State of Origin contest, fell within the category of banter. Slater, sadly, took a big step too far.
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