Billy Slater handshake leaves NSW ‘filthy’ before Origin II

Billy Slater’s final mindgame before State of Origin Game 2 has ruffled feathers after he shared a handshake with Michael Maguire.

Queensland coach Billy Slater was quizzed about Michael Maguire’s ‘glass houses’ sledge. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

NSW figures were “filthy” Billy Slater left Blues coach Michael Maguire waiting the day before Wednesday night’s State of Origin blockbuster.

That’s the opinion of leading rugby league journalist Dean Ritchie, who has shared the thoughts privately coming from inside the NSW camp.

Ritchie said on Sky Sports Radio on Wednesday morning NSW was “miffed” when the Maroons camp arrived late for Tuesday’s final media event in Melbourne before Game 2 at the MCG.

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It has been widely reported there is friction between Maguire and Slater after the pair exchanged thinly-veiled verbal barbs in the wake of Joseph Sua’ali’i’s ugly hit on fullback Reece Walsh during the Maroons’ victory in the series opener.

It’s why the sight of Slater, Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans and Storm hooker Harry Grant leaving the Blues waiting at Tuesday’s promotional event in Federation Square has raised eyebrows.

Billy Slater shook hands with Michael Maguire. Photo: Getty, Daniel Pocket.

Ritchie reported in The Daily Telegraph: “The Blues were filthy, and Queensland’s tardiness has added further tension and hostility to a volatile build-up to State of Origin II”.

Slater and Maguire were seen behind the scenes shaking hands briefly before completing their media commitments without exchanging another word.

Ritchie said on Tuesday it was “quite awkward” seeing Slater and Maguire ignore each other.

“The Blues were privately a little bit miffed though, it was for 12.30pm, they were ready to go at twenty past 12 and Queensland lobbed in at twenty to one,” he said on the Big Sports Breakfast.

“And then even when Billy got there, Madge was waiting at the gate to go onto the stage and Billy decided to do some autographs and selfies. That’s fine to promote the game down here, I get it. But at the same time it took them another few minutes and they were close to 15 minutes late onto the stage.”

Speaking to NSW legend and Big Sports Breakfast radio host Laurie Daley, Ritchie said: “You know what it’s like Laurie, those little things tend to irritate you when you’re 24 hours out from the game.

“And it certainly did with the Blues.”

When asked if he thought it was a deliberate tactic, Ritchie replied: “I don’t know Laurie, you’d have to ask Billy that. I don’t know how you can be late when you work to a stringent itinerary.”

Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater walks on the stage. Picture: Mark Stewart

Maguire did address Queensland’s late arrival and told The Telegraph: “Well, I always like to turn up on time.”

Ritchie said: “I guess that was Madge’s roundabout way of saying, ‘Yes it did give me the you-know-whats’.”

Slater had kept his head down at Federation Square and did his best to ignore questions about Maguire’s “glass houses” barb.

On the eve of the return of State of Origin to the MCG, Maguire was asked several times who the sledge, delivered in the wake of Walsh being knocked out in the opening match of the series, was aimed at.

But as he deflected, Slater said he didn’t think Maguire was aiming at him anyway and the sideshow had taken up little time in his preparation, knowing a Queensland win on Wednesday night would deliver a third-straight series victory.

While he joked his house had “some” glass in it, Slater was quick to point out why any suggestions of bad blood between himself and Maguire, who was an assistant coach at Melbourne Storm when Slater was a player, meant little anyway.

“We’re actually not playing,” he said, according to NCA NewsWire.

“To be honest, I didn’t feel it was directed at me, so I’ve kept my head out of the noise this week. I’ve really focused on what my job is and what’s important to me, and that’s helping our players be at their best tomorrow night.

“We’ve had a real focus on us this preparation. We’ve done our due diligence on the opposition, but it’s been a real focus on us, and for me to play my part in that, it’s about keeping my head away from that noise and making sure I’m doing my job.”