State of Origin: Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater signs three-year extension

Billy Slater has ensured stability in Queensland’s program by inking a three-year extension to remain in charge of the Maroons until the end of 2026.

It’s official. Queensland super coach Billy Slater is coming back to inflict more misery on the embattled Blues.

This masthead can reveal Slater will extend his State of Origin coaching career after formally agreeing terms with the Queensland Rugby League.

At a time when NSW chief advisor Greg Alexander has severed ties with the Blues, Slater has ensured stability in Queensland’s program by inking a three-year extension to remain in charge of the Maroons until the end of 2026.

It is a huge coup for the Maroons, who are hungry for a hat-trick of Origin crowns next season after a flying start to Slater’s interstate coaching career that has seen the rookie mentor clinch back-to-back titles.

Slater was a free agent in the wake of Queensland’s 2-1 series victory this year, but the 40-year-old believes he has only scratched the surface with a Maroons side hungry for more Blues blood in 2024.

The 31-game Origin legend confirmed he will be at the helm for the long haul as he eyes the very ‘Three-Peat’ the Panthers are chasing in Sunday night’s NRL grand final.

“It’s an incredible honour to be the Queensland coach,” Slater said.

“I’m excited about the journey that this current group of players and staff have embarked upon.

Billy Slater (L) head coach of the Maroons and Allan Langer celebrate winning the 2023 Origin series. Picture: Getty Images

“I believe they are only getting started.

“From the very beginning, I was drawn to this role because I deeply understand the importance of this team to all Queenslanders.

“I’m a proud Queenslander and this team means a lot to me.

“It has been a massive part of my life and I’m extremely grateful to get the opportunity to help other people, not only fulfil their dream, but inspire our state.”

The Maroons were on shaky ground when Slater answered a coaching SOS following the resignation of Paul Green after Queensland were well beaten in the 2021 series.

Unproven as a coach, Slater had immediate success, engineering an epic fightback in 2022 before wrapping up this year’s series in two games, only to be denied a 3-0 sweep of NSW in the dead rubber in Sydney.

There were fears Slater might not return to the Origin role after being linked with NRL coaching jobs at Melbourne and the Dragons, but his preference was always to strike a deal with the QRL.

Now the three-year upgrade is complete in a move that will see Slater serve half-a-decade as Maroons coach, with QRL chief executive Ben Ikin lauding his retention.

Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater will coach the Maroons for at least three more years. Picture: Brendan Radke

“To be able to lock in someone of Billy’s calibre is a brilliant outcome for our Origin program and the people who work with and support the Maroons,” Ikin said.

“Over the past two years we’ve witnessed a team that has made Queenslanders immensely proud, and it’s been Billy’s vision and leadership driving that.

“Our players are not only going to new levels on the field, but their commitment to engaging with our fans across the state has been first class.

“We’re excited to have Billy lead our team for the next three years and we look forward to start planning for the 2024 series.”

Queensland forward ironman Reuben Cotter, this year’s Wally Lewis Medallist as Origin player of the series, said Slater had been a revelation.

“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 State of Origin: Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater signs three-year extension