State of Origin 2023: Maroons coach Billy Slater noncommittal to Queensland future

Queensland coach Billy Slater can lead the Maroons to its first sweep since 2010 next week, but could that be his swan song as coach in Origin?

How Maroons great Gorden Tallis is helping Queensland rookie Corey Horsburgh

• Slammed: Fittler’s absurd Origin remarks
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Billy Slater remains noncommittal to coaching Queensland beyond next week after admitting the draining Origin series would make him reconsider his future.

Slater can lead Queensland to its first Origin series clean sweep since 2010 if the Maroons beat the bumbling Blues in Sydney on Wednesday night.

It has been a dream start in the Maroons coaching hot-seat for Slater, who has already secured back-to-back series wins in his first two years in the job.

That has come on the back of meticulous planning and preparation, with Slater watching nearly every minute of NRL football this year to piece together a brilliant Maroons squad.

Slater, 40, has been juggling the Queensland job with his Channel 9 and other business commitments.

And he said he had to decide whether he would seek a new contract following next week’s series finale at Accor Stadium.

“We will worry about this year first. That will take care of itself,” he said.

“I will just focus on what I’ve got at hand and the job I’ve got at hand and that’s preparing the next six days for an Origin game.

“It’s not a no.

“I am really enjoying this. I really am. This is great, but it takes up a fair bit of time and I’ve got a lot on.

“I will sit down with Ben Ikin (QRL CEO), the right people and my family. That is really important to me as well.

“It takes up a fair bit of time before the Origin series but we will work out what is best for all parties moving forward.”

Maroons coach Billy Slater. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

The ball is firmly in Slater’s court following a 4-1 start to his Origin coaching career and he is deadly serious about leading Queensland to a clean sweep.

The Maroons ramped up their preparations with an opposed session against Hostplus Cup team the Tweed Heads Seagulls on Thursday afternoon.

The QRL is keen to extend Slater’s tenure as head coach and a 3-nil series would further empower Slater at the negotiating table.

While he has been mooted as a potential successor to Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm, it is difficult to see Slater entering a full-time NRL role at this point.

But he refused to rule it out.

“I didn’t see myself standing here being the Queensland coach a few years ago either,” he said.

“You never know what is around the corner. Right now I am happy with what I am doing and where my life is.”

Slater has inherited some proven Origin performers in Daly Cherry-Evans, Cameron Munster and Ben Hunt.

Billy Slater has a chat to his troops in Cairns. (Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images)

However he has ushered in a new generation of Maroons talent that is set to dominate the Origin arena for years to come.

The likes of Reece Walsh, Murray Taulagi, Selwyn Cobbo, Jeremiah Nanai, Pat Carrigan, Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden and Tom Gilbert have made their Origin debuts under Slater in the past two years.

Slater said the current Maroons crop had no ceiling when it came to what they could achieve.

“The players drive everything,” he said.

“Sometimes the coaches might need to direct and put things in front of them but the players are driving this performance. They are driving their behaviour off the field.

“They want to build their own legacy as Queensland State of Origin players and an Origin team.

“We are merely directing and channelling their focus in different areas. The players do all the work.

“The continuity of our team is really important, that’s helped and is naturally going to grow. They’ve got a great connection off the field.”

Raging Bull’s anger management classes for ‘Big Red’ Maroon

Queensland’s new firebrand Corey Horsburgh is ready to rip in his Origin debut after taking anger management advice from former Maroons hothead Gorden Tallis.

Horsburgh will be unleashed on the NSW Blues in Wednesday week’s Origin dead-rubber at Accor Stadium when the Maroons look to secure their first series clean sweep since 2010.

The Raiders redhead has been in sensational form for Canberra this season, earning an Origin debut to replace injured prop Tom Flegler.

Now 25, Horsburgh has overcome some of the issues he had with controlling his emotions on-field and said ‘The Raging Bull’ Tallis played a key role in his maturation.

“Talking to Corey Parker and Gordie Tallis really helped me,” Horsburgh said.

“We all know Gordie was an angry bastard and loved getting among it. I just had to pick people’s brains. It came with age.

State of Origin debutant Corey Horsburgh is ready to rip in, after taking anger management advice from former Maroons hothead Gorden Tallis. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Gordie said to me every time you get angry, try and take it out in a positive way in a big tackle or a big carry. That was what stuck with me. I haven’t lost my head in a while.

“You just learn how to control your emotions a bit better. I still have it in me to be my own downfall. I just have to learn how to control it in a positive way.

“Some things get to me more than it would to others. In the past I’ve used it in the wrong way. I’ve learnt to use it in a positive way now.

“It’s not a bad thing, but you’ve got to learn how to control it and that comes with age.”

Horsburgh will come off the bench in the series finale and is expected to add punch to an engine room that has dominated the Blues in the opening two games of the series.

Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans said the Maroons couldn’t wait to play with their new raging redhead.

“Most good sides I’ve played in have a strong redhead,” Cherry-Evans said as the Maroons hosted a fan day in Cairns on Tuesday.

A hothead himself back in his playing days, Tallis (right) has encouraged Horsburgh to take out his anger on opponents with a big tackle or hit-up, instead of his fists.

“You think back to the Queensland days of Paul Vautin and I’ve played with a handful of redheads over my time. They’re always great competitors and add a lot to the side.

“If you’ve had to grow up with red hair, you’re obviously a resilient person from school days. Corey will be up for anything.

“You can tell he is extremely excited to play for Queensland. You could tell last camp he was excited, just being 18th man. He would have learnt a lot last camp and that’s the perfect transition.

“He knows exactly what this team needs from him and we’re really supportive of him being in the side. I can’t wait to get out there with him.

“He could be the next cult hero.”

Horsburgh admits he’s struggled to control his emotions on the field in the past, but has matured under the advice of Tallis. Picture: Getty Images.

A Caboolture product, Horsburgh was in North Queensland’s development system before being poached by the Raiders.

He made his NRL debut for Canberra in 2019, playing in the Raiders’ grand final loss to the Roosters, and said he couldn’t wait to rip for Queensland.

“Flegler went down so they needed to add another (redhead),” Horsburgh said.

“I’m just grateful. I’m excited to be part of it. I can’t wait for the week ahead and the game.

“It’s been a massive dream of mine since I was a little boy. It’s a very proud moment for me and my family.

“I used to love watching Petero (Civoniceva), Corey Parker, Matt Scott, all the big front rowers doing the tough stuff.

“I liked the way they played their footy, especially in the Origin arena. If I get to do anything like them I’ll be happy.”

Originally published as State of Origin 2023: Maroons coach Billy Slater noncommittal to Queensland future