State of Origin: Billy Slater’s insight into what it means to coach the Maroons

Billy Slater knows that his job as coach of Queensland goes far beyond X’s and O’s, it’s about ensuring his players realise just how special it is to wear Maroon, writes BRENT READ.

Queensland State of Origin coach Billy Slater. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Billy Slater’s first day as Queensland coach three years ago was long and tiring. It started with a walk that says much about his sense of what it means to be the coach of the Maroons. Probably helps explain why he uttered the infamous “We’re still Queenslanders” line after defeat at the MCG a few weeks ago.

Slater recounted the story in a recent appearance on The Imperfects podcast, where he discussed his leadership style.

Over an hour or so, the Maroons mentor lifted the curtain on his coaching philosophies, which have made him the most coveted mentor in the game.

Over the past year, St George Illawarra and Parramatta have both inquired about Slater’s services only to be told he has no interest in becoming an NRL coach.

His focus is on Queensland right now and that won’t be changing any time soon.

There have been few chinks in Slater’s armour, although some have suggested his reaction after defeat in Origin II were the first signs of fragility in the Maroons on his watch.

NSW coach Michael Maguire landed some telling blows with his “glass houses” gibe and the result at the MCG suggests he won the battle.

The war will be decided on Wednesday night.

Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater.

First though, back to that long walk three years ago from the team hotel to Suncorp Stadium, scene of Wednesday night’s series decider where Slater will face the greatest challenge yet of his coaching career.

“It’s as much about creating a feeling as it is about creating the moment and the feeling that those players felt when they were walking down the street and people were stopping work and hanging out the business windows and yelling out ‘Queenslander!’ and the cars going past,” Slater said.

“That’s a reminder. It’s a reminder of what this team means to our state and the people of our state. They were once those people looking up to this team and now they get the opportunity to inspire our whole state.

“And sometimes as a rugby league player in the NRL - you have 27 weeks of a home-and-away season, then you have finals. There’s only 52 weeks in the year.

“So you’re a lot about week-to-week, about ‘What did I do? What did I improve?’ Your head’s down, you’ve got the blinkers on.

“Sometimes you can forget about that big picture and that memory of when you were sitting on the lounge room floor on a Wednesday night watching Wally Lewis and Allan Langer play for Queensland and how that made you feel.

“There’s a higher purpose than for you to go out there and play well in a football game.

“The coaching is important but those little feelings and those little moments are probably equally, if not more so important.”

Billy Slater and the Maroons are licking their wounds after the MCG mauling. Picture Instagram @qldmaroons

Slater was one of those kids.

Then he was one of those players.

Now he is the coach of a team that is licking its wounds after being on the receiving end of a belting at the MCG.

They were bashed and bullied. Maroons players have turned their nose up at the suggestion but the performance was embarrassing and the lack of response to NSW’s tactics highlighted just how much Queensland miss the likes of Tino Fa’asuamaleau, Tom Flegler and Tom Gilbert.

Without three of their enforcers, they were meek and mild. You suspect the Blues won’t change, certainly not while Liam Martin and Angus Crichton continue to run amok.

Queensland will need to find someone to return serve. The Maroons are crying out for an enforcer. The time has come for Lindsay Collins and Patrick Carrigan to match the aggression and unleash some of their own.

Success on the field, rather than verbal battles off of it, is what motivates Billy Slater. Picture: Getty Images

It may be the difference between winning and losing.

It is uncharted territory for Slater and the Blues will fancy their chances.

Maguire showed he was a force to be reckoned with a few weeks ago and he has maintained his subtle psychological warfare in the lead-up to Origin III, using the “glass houses” gibe to taunt Maroons legend Gorden Tallis.

Maguire spent a lifetime in clubland doing his best to avoid providing the opposition with any additional motivation. He has happily waged war in Origin and the series is better for it.

Meanwhile, Slater has had little interest in engaging. Words mean nothing when you lose in the manner they did in Melbourne. Actions are the only thing that count.

As always, Suncorp Stadium will be seething on Wednesday night.

The Blues have a horrendous record at the ground but there is a spring in their step embodied by the confidence of their coach.

Maguire is on the front foot. He is up and about. Slater will be happy to concede defeat off the field if his team can win the war on it.

* * * * *

Jessica Hull has run the Olympic final a few times already, often while training around the streets of Wollongong.

Tricked her brain into thinking the streets of the Albion Park are the straight in Paris and she is flying home with a medal in her sights.

So when the day does arrive, it doesn’t catch her by surprise. She knows what to expect. If a medal is within her reach, her mind and body will react exactly as they should.

A month or so ago, when Hull spoke to this masthead while in the throes of preparing for the national track and field championships, a medal seemed a lot further away.

After her run at the Paris Diamond League last weekend, where she became the fifth fastest woman in history over the 1,500 metres, a medal is within her grasp.

A gold may be a bridge too far given the 1,500 metres is the domain of two-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon - one of the greatest runners of her generation - yet a silver or bronze is there for the taking if Hull can maintain her form.

Jessica Hull on the shoulder of Kenyan great Faith Kipyegon at the World Athletics Championships. Picture: Getty Images

Hull made the world sit up and take notice last week when she pushed Kipyegon all the way in one of the most important primers for the Paris Games.

Over the past decade, she has shaved more than 30 seconds off her best time over the 1,500 metres. She is a legitimate hope and if she can bring home a medal, the hard work on the streets of Wollongong will have paid off.

“That is what gets me out the door every day,” Hull said.

“It is the voice in your head. When you are hurting in a workout, that is what you are thinking about - this is for the Olympics, this is to get me to the final, this is to get me to finish where I think I can finish.

“It is always in the back of my head that this is for Paris. Even just like using some of my sessions when I am trying to finish fast, I am like this is where the medals are made, kind of tricking your brain into doing those things in training so if you get that opportunity …. you take it.

“You’re not like I can’t believe I am here. You have run it a few times in your head.”

Whatever Hull is doing, it seems to be working. Bring on Paris.

Originally published as State of Origin: Billy Slater’s insight into what it means to coach the Maroons