Queensland coach Billy Slater slammed former NSW forward Aaron Woods for his ‘grub’ call declaring he’d abused his position

As former NRL star Aaron Woods radio show took a ratings hit he also copped it between the eyes from irate Queensland coach Billy Slater after a personal attack.

An emotional and fired-up Billy Slater has hit back at controversial comments from former Blues forward Aaron Woods, warning people in privileged positions need to choose their words carefully given they can have lasting consequences.

After being made to wait for his NSW counterparts at the final press conference in Perth ahead of Wednesday’s second State of Origin clash, Slater didn’t hold back in response to Woods who called the Queensland coach a “grub” for dropping veteran skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.

Slater he’d failed to take into consideration the impact of his words, even making a reference to Queensland’s “last coach” before him, Paul Green, who took his life in 2022, in calling out how personal attacks can hurt.

Queensland coach Billy Slater called out a personal attack from Aaron Woods. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

As a commentator himself, Slater said it was a “privilege” to be able to cast judgment on the game and others, and Woods missed the mark badly.

“When you degrade someone personally in a derogatory manner, you probably don’t deserve one of those privileged positions that you’re all in, that we’re all in,” an emotional Slater said, his comments earning wild applause from the crowd.

“Although I might be able to handle it, the next person mightn’t be.

“Maybe our last coach (Green) didn’t.

“When you hold a position in the media or in our game, I feel that’s a privilege and with that privilege comes a responsibility.

“I sit in that position most weeks and you amplify your voice to millions of people.

“You’re not talking to your mates in the pub.”

Former NRL star Aaron Woods has copped it from Billy Slater.

Woods is part of Triple M’s rebooted Sydney breakfast show which copped a whack in the new ratings, shed 1.5 per cent market share.

Slater added more heat to Woods and went as far as suggesting he was two-faced after a recent interaction between the pair.

“Now, I know Aaron Woods. I actually ran into him about three or four weeks ago at a footy game and he didn’t voice that opinion then.

“He actually brought his son over to introduce him to me and I get the attention in our game.

“I believe the character of a person is judged more on what they say about people and how they treat people than what an individual says to create attention about someone.

“I get that. Our game creates attention, but there’s a responsibility with that attention.”

Slater’s comments were met with applause from Queensland fans in the crowd and newly-appointed skipper Cameron Munster leaping to the defence of his former Storm teammate.

“When you’ve got a guy like Billy Slater as your coach and what he’s done in the game, it does hurt a little bit, especially the comments from someone in particular,” he said.

“At the end of the day, they’re in the media and we’ve got a lot of pressure on us at the moment. He is copping a lot of slack, but he’s doing everything he can.

“We need to stand up for him and we’ve got to do that tomorrow night.”

Queensland need to win the second Origin game to keep the series alive, and avoid a second-straight series loss.