State of Origin 2021: Bruce Hatcher hits back at claims Billy Slater was offered Maroons coaching job
An angry Queensland league chief has refuted claims Billy Slater was offered the Maroons job and is willing to put his neck on the line to prove it.
Maroons
Don't miss out on the headlines from Maroons. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A clearly fed-up Queensland chairman Bruce Hatcher says he will sign a statutory declaration as his proof Billy Slater was never offered the Maroons coaching job ahead of Paul Green.
And Hatcher also refuted the suggestion an angry Slater ever told the Maroons’ boss to “stick it up his arse” on being asked to come back for an interview after suggestions he was previously told he had the job.
But that was Paul “Fatty” Vautin’s stunning claim over the weekend with the Maroons legend saying on ABC Radio it was at that point Slater (his Channel 9 commentary colleague) told Queensland to “stick their interview where the sun don’t shine”.
Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
Hatcher was adamant Fatty’s version of events was “factually incorrect”, claiming it was never said by anyone with “authority”.
“I don’t know where he got the information from but I certainly can’t corroborate the story,” Hatcher said.
“I certainly know what I said.
“He was not offered the job outright by anyone who had the authority to make that decision.
“I will stand and do a stat dec for you if you want me to do that.
“That is how confident I feel about that statement.”
And he said if someone offered Slater the job without authority “instead of being cynical they ought to come forward and say it was their fault.
“Because I certainly know it wasn’t the board decision and it wasn’t what I told (Slater).”
Hatcher said he had two phone calls with the former champion fullback during the process.
Asked if Slater ever told him to “stick it where the sun doesn’t shine”, Hatcher added: “Well, he didn’t say that to me.
“It was a full and frank conversation.
“But it was not done in a manner that was inappropriate.
“It was never said ‘stick it up your arse’ or words of similar meaning.”
Hatcher said the controversy would not harm Slater’s hopes if he wanted to put his hand up to coach Queensland in the future.
Hatcher also had no new information relating to the NRL’s ongoing investigation into Jai Arrow’s bubble breach amid suggestions more than one woman could have been invited into the camp.
It’s also been alleged the NRL integrity unit was trying to establish if other players — or staff — may have been in the room with Arrow.
Hatcher said: “I haven’t heard anything from anyone at the NRL for weeks.
“And it is their jurisdiction.
“They have every right to ask all the questions and make the final decision based on what they gather.
“I don’t have any comment to make on that. I wasn’t in the room. I wasn’t in the camp. And I have no idea.
“As I say, because it is under investigation and the integrity unit is quite proficient, they will follow it through until they reach a satisfactory conclusion.
“I certainly have no knowledge of any of that stuff.”
Hatcher also hit out at “disloyalty” from those taking pot shots at Queensland on the back of this year’s disastrous Origin campaign.
There were also revelations on the weekend that the NRL has “serious concerns” about the state’s ongoing leadership after a series of shambolic events.
Hatcher fired back that he “didn’t see the same spotlight when NSW lost eight” series.
“All of a sudden we are a rabble bunch of people,” he continued.
“We have lost two out of three series.
“I didn’t see the same spotlight when NSW lost eight.
“I am rather amused.
“My point is, I am not a shrinking violet.
“But I can’t believe how ineffective and inefficient I have become in three weeks.
“I have been around a while and I am certainly not fazed.
“I get pissed off but the game is a lot bigger than I will ever be and that is how it should be.
“But I don’t really appreciate the disloyalty that goes on.
“As soon as there is a problem they want to suddenly cast blame on everyone.”
Revealed: Maroons told Slater he had top Origin job
Queensland legend Paul Vautin has revealed Billy Slater was promised the Maroons coaching job only to be told he had to come back and be interviewed.
Slater, one of the best players to put on a Maroons jersey, was the frontrunner to replace Wayne Bennett as Queensland coach and was told he had landed the top job. While Slater had yet to coach at any real level since retiring in 2018, there was a push for him to take over the Maroons job.
But according to Vautin, who played and coached Queensland, the Maroons hierarchy had a change of heart and instead wanted Slater to compete with North Queensland Cowboys premiership winning coach Paul Green for the top job.
“Billy Slater was actually offered the job earlier this year,” Vautin told ABC Sport. “He said ‘yeah I’ll take it.’
“And a month went by … he got a call from someone from the Queensland Rugby League and they said ‘we’d love for you to come in and have an interview.”
Vautin said this is where the situation soured for Slater.
“Billy said ‘Interview? Didn’t you tell me I had the job,” Vautin said. “And Billy said you can stick their interview where the sun don’t shine.
“And that’s when Paul Green got the job.”
Green was appointed in February this year after Slater opted to pull out of the race.
Slater has emerged as a potential frontrunner to replace Green should the Maroons look to move-on following their disastrous first series under Green’s watch. There has been suggestions he could form a coaching combination with former Storm teammate Cameron Smith.
Bennett could be another option for Queensland next year with his commitments uncertain beyond South Sydney’s season at the end of the year.
While Slater was overlooked for the coaching job, he has taken up a position as selector this series.
Is he the one: Ponga fighting to hold Maroons spot
Kalyn Ponga admits he is under siege as Queensland fullback with the Newcastle champion fighting off the Maroons’ enemy within as he prepares for Origin III on Wednesday night.
Sidelined for the first two games due to a groin injury, Ponga makes a welcome return for Origin’s debut on his home soil in Newcastle and he is under pressure to deliver in the Queensland No. 1 jumper.
While the Maroons are thin in some positions, they have an embarrassment of riches at fullback, with AJ Brimson, Valentine Holmes and Warriors whiz-kid Reece Walsh all applying the blowtorch to Ponga.
Since his magical Origin debut in Game Two of 2018, Ponga could have tallied 11 consecutive matches for Queensland.
Instead, the 2021 dead-rubber will be just Ponga’s fourth Origin game due to a succession of injuries, including shoulder surgery which wiped him out of last year’s epic series boilover of the Blues.
During his time on the sidelines, Titans fullback Brimson and former Broncos teenager Walsh have emerged as NRL sensations, while Holmes filled in for the injured Ponga in the opening two games of this series.
Walsh, who has played just seven NRL games, was on the verge of a stunning Origin debut in Origin II, only to be ruled out after suffering a heartbreaking hamstring injury at the captain’s run.
Now a fully-fit Ponga is back in his beloved Queensland No. 1 jumper and he is hellbent on delivering a man-of-the-match display to stave off a Blue Rinse and ram home why he is the Maroons’ pre-eminent custodian.
“There is (pressure for the fullback spot), it’s been healthy competition I reckon,” Ponga said.
“I was excited to watch Reece Walsh hopefully debut and I was sad when he didn’t.
“Val has been solid there and AJ was good at fullback last year.
“For me, I want to solidify it (the Queensland No. 1 jumper) and make it mine.
“I have to do that by playing my best footy.”
Queensland fullback legend Gary Belcher, who played 16 Origin matches between 1986-93, believes Ponga is the standout choice and can one day join Billy Slater among the Maroons’ greatest backfield exponents.
“Kalyn Ponga is the long-term fullback for me,” said former Australia fullback Belcher.
“I certainly believe he is a better fullback than Valentine Holmes and if he keeps on his trajectory, I see Ponga becoming one of the greatest Queensland fullbacks.
“The benchmark is obviously Billy, he was incredible for so long, but Ponga will certainly be up there with the best if he keeps going and stays fit.”
The Maroons have been flogged by a total of 76-6 in the opening two games and Belcher says Queensland have sorely missed Ponga’s attacking potency.
“He is such a threat,” Belcher said.
“The best example we’ve seen is what Tom Trbojevic (NSW superstar) can do as a roaming centre or fullback.
“The Maroons in this series have lacked the commodity of speed and if you have it, you can threaten the defensive line and suddenly defenders are nervous.
“I like his heavy involvement. The best fullbacks these days just don’t bring the ball back, they have other weapons in their game, whether that’s hanging around the ruck or trying to make something happen as a second or third receiver.
“Kalyn does that. When he has the ball, he puts defenders on the back foot and there is some panic and chaos in the defensive line.”
While Ponga is a proven matchwinner for the Knights at NRL level, the 23-year-old says he has only scratched the surface of his talent in the Origin arena as he looks to deny NSW a clean sweep.
“I need to be more consistent,” he said.
“That is my main thing, that comes with my attitude on and off the field.
“I’ve had three injuries the last few years. The way the game is going, I have to be more professional, I’m not just a kid anymore who can think my body will be all right.
“I’ve learned a lot about that over the last seven weeks.
“It’s important we win (Origin III). The boys have the pride in this camp, but the key for us now is execution and making sure we take our opportunities in this game.”
Maroons hit out at toxic culture claims
Leading Maroons stars insist Queensland’s famous culture has not turned toxic as besieged coach Paul Green fights to avert the state’s first Origin clean-sweep series loss to NSW in 21 years.
The Jai Arrow Covid-breach saga has plunged the strife-torn Maroons, already down 2-0 in the series, into further disarray heading into Origin III this Wednesday night at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Maroons’ 2021 campaign will be remembered as one of the most drama-charged in Origin’s 41-year history.
Aside from a record 50-6 loss in Game One and another 26-0 drubbing in the return bout at Suncorp Stadium, Queensland were beset by allegations their coaching staff were drinking beyond midnight on the day of the series opener in Townsville.
Coach Green has emphatically denied talk of boozing, but Arrow’s decision to breach strict Covid protocols by inviting a woman back to the team hotel has raised further questions about the Camp Maroon culture.
Green’s Maroons will statistically become the worst team in Origin history if they lose in Newcastle and prop Christian Welch admits the embattled outfit has let down Queensland rugby league fans.
“We’ve had a tough series,” said Welch, a survivor of last year’s epic series win under Green’s Queensland predecessor Wayne Bennett.
“If you go back 12 months and talk about the culture of the Maroons … it’s pretty much the same staff and playing group.
“’Greeny’ has come in for Wayne (Bennett), but otherwise it’s pretty much identical the group that’s here.
“Things like this (the Arrow affair) don’t augur well for how you’re perceived and getting towelled up in games doesn’t help either.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do as a group to regain the trust of not only Queensland rugby league fans but the public in general.”
Panthers back-rower Kurt Capewell entered his maiden Queensland camp last year and is adamant standards have not dropped under Green, insisting Maroons players have not given up hope of avoiding a 3-0 rout.
The Maroons last suffered a Blue Rinse in 2000, when NSW thrashed Queensland’s 56-16 in Game Three at Homebush.
RELATED: MAROONS BOLTER’S WEAPON THAT CAN STOP TURBO
“I wouldn’t say our culture has changed,” he said.
“We still have a lot of good players from last year here, there has always been a great culture in the Queensland camp and no way would I say there has been a shift in culture.
“I just want to say to the Queensland fans, let’s go for Game Three, we are here for you guys and we can’t wait to rip in and get the win for everyone.
“That’s our No. 1 goal … it would be a pretty crappy feeling to have a clean sweep against us.”
Arrow’s scratching has opened the door for Broncos prop Tom Flegler to make his Origin debut.
The 21-year-old has struggled for form over the past two years during Brisbane’s free fall, but Welch backed his fellow front-rower to handle a Blues baptism.
“Tommy will be great,” Welch said.
“I’m not sure what the final make-up of the team will be.
“If Tom comes in for a debut I will be so pumped for him.
“He is a really solid, physical middle-forward that will be strong for us.”
More Coverage
Originally published as State of Origin 2021: Bruce Hatcher hits back at claims Billy Slater was offered Maroons coaching job
Storm star turns back on Kiwis to keep Origin dream alive
The injury plagued Kiwis have suffered a massive blow ahead of the Pacific Championships, with a young star rejecting New Zealand to keep his Maroons Origin dream alive.
‘Not happy’: NSW dirty over coach exit
The truth behind Michael Maguire’s sudden decision to quit NSW has come to light as a attentions turn to a Blues legend.