NRL news 2023: Billy Slater makes call on Queensland Origin coaching future

He’s won two State of Origin shields in as many years, and now triumphant Queensland coach Billy Slater says he’s keen to coach on with the Maroons.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 12: Maroons coach Billy Slater looks on after game three of the State of Origin series between New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons at Accor Stadium on July 12, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Billy Slater is keen to coach on with the Maroons.

Queensland’s hopes of an Origin series hat-trick have received a massive boost with Slater not ready to walk away as coach in a huge coup for the Maroons.

This masthead can reveal Slater will return for the 2024 campaign _ and almost certainly the 2025 series - after his management held talks with Queensland Rugby League boss Ben Ikin on Thursday.

There were fears Slater could quit after he remained tight-lipped on his Origin future in the wake of Queensland’s 24-10 loss to NSW in Game Three last month, which denied the Maroons a 3-0 sweep.

Slater has yet to formally ink a new deal, but back-to-back series wins have fuelled Slater’s desire to extend his tenure as Queensland coach and inflict more misery on the embattled Blues.

Slater and QRL boss Ben Ikin confirmed the deal. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

His manager George Mimis flew to Brisbane for a preliminary meeting with QRL chief executive Ikin, who confirmed he had kicked off talks for the 31-game Origin fullback legend to return to Camp Maroon next season eyeing a Queensland treble.

“We’ve established that Billy wants to keep coaching the Maroons,” Ikin said.

“Now we’ll work through the specifics of how that looks, both for Billy and the QRL.”

It is understood Slater is keen to sign an extension longer than 12 months, meaning the 40-year-old will be calling the shots at the Maroons until at least the end of 2025.

Queensland Rugby League hierarchy have been so thrilled with Slater’s evolution from coaching greenhorn to Origin series winner that they are open to a longer term of three years.

The parties will finalise an upgrade in the coming months _ but the one certainty is Slater will be Queensland’s coach next year.

NSW coach Brad Fittler on the other hand is in the firing line. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“Based on the quality of the man and the coach, we would like a longer term than a year-by-year arrangement, but we will be guided by what Billy wants,” Ikin said a fortnight ago.

“Having won back-to-back series, he knows he is capable enough to do the job well, he has a really good group of players who respect him enormously.”

Slater’s retention also has huge ramifications for his coaching staff, with key trio Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Josh Hannay almost certain to return as assistants to maintain the Maroons’ rage.

Smith, Origin’s most-capped player with 42 appearances, believes Slater is cultivating the same status as Queensland’s most successful coach Mal Meninga, who led the Maroons to nine titles in a golden decade between 2006-15.

Cameron Smith and Billy Slater continue to be a formidable duo. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“He now has that same aura about him as Mal Meninga,” Smith said.

“People shouldn’t be surprised by Billy’s success (as Queensland coach).

“I am certainly not. Having known Billy for such a long time, I know the dedication he has to the work that he is a part of.

“I saw it first-hand as a player and as his teammate.

“He wouldn’t have thought he would be the coach of the Queensland Maroons, but he has dived straight into the job.

“The amount of time and effort and preparation that he has put into every single player who has pulled on a Maroons jersey over the last two series is remarkable.”

Slater has won four of six games as Queensland coach, with Maroons players lauding his attention to detail and ability to build team harmony.

The 319-game NRL champion has ushered in a new generation of Maroons in the likes of Selwyn Cobbo, Murray Taulagi, Jeremiah Nanai, Reuben Cotter, Pat Carrigan and Tom Dearden.

Forward ironman Cotter, this year’s Wally Lewis Medallist, said Slater had been a revelation.

Slater has won both series in his first two years. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“Billy has been enormous for this team. He is one of the greatest coaches I have played under,” he said.

“It’s just what he does with the group of boys. His style is very different to everyone, it is very motivating.

“He is one of the best players to play the game and so are a lot of the coaching staff like Cam Smith and Johnathan Thurston.

“We all have massive respect for them and that’s where it comes from. We don’t want to let them down and we don’t want to let each other down.

“It’s the way Billy looks at the game. He is really big on re-earning our jersey every game.

“That competitive style of footy, the effort-on-effort stuff, he is big on those one percenters and winning the small moments.”

Originally published as NRL news 2023: Billy Slater makes call on Queensland Origin coaching future