‘You worked that out’: Coaches go head-to-head as Origin mystery answered

Billy Slater and Michael Maguire have gone head-to-head in a joint press conference, answering one of the big questions in the lead up to Game 2.

Billy Slater and Michael Maguire

Billy Slater and Michael Maguire have gone head-to-head at a joint press conference in Melbourne ahead of State of Origin Game 2, with the Blues coach seemingly confirming his ‘glass houses’ dig was aimed at his Maroons counterpart.

Maguire told reporters on Wednesday that “you all worked that out” when asked if the sledge was directed at Slater.

“I think you all worked that out so I’ll leave that with you guys, but one thing I do is that I look after my players and we look after our players so that’s where it was focused,” Maguire said.

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Last Monday, the day after the Blues announced their squad for Game 2, Maguire said Queenslanders who questioned his Game 1 tactics were living in glass houses.

It was widely assumed that Maguire was referencing Slater’s lengthy judiciary rap sheet that he accrued over the course of his career.

When Blues debutant Joseph Sua’ali’i was sent off early in Game I for a high shot on Reece Walsh, figures in the Queensland camp claim it was a deliberate New South Wales tactic to target the electric fullback.

Maroons greats Johnathan Thurston and Nate Myles weren’t shy to share their disgust in the aftermath, but Slater himself was pretty tight-lipped when he was asked about the hit in interviews following Game I.

Billy Slater and Michael Maguire

Wednesday’s joint press conference started with a bang when one reporter asked Slater what is house was made of.

“It’s got a bit of glass in there,” Slater quipped.

Slater was then pressed about his relationship with Maguire and whether he felt the ‘glass houses’ dig was directed at him.

“We’re good, we’re good,” he said.

“We’re actually not playing, I don’t know if you knew that.”

“To be honest I didn’t feel it was directed at me. 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.

“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 for the team.”

Maguire, who was an assistant coach at the Storm from 2004-2009 while Slater was Melbourne’s fullback, was also asked during the press conference about the relationship he had with the Maroons coach.

“Yeah fine, we spent a fair bit of time together years ago, so we are all good,” Maguire said.

Originally published as ‘You worked that out’: Coaches go head-to-head as Origin mystery answered