‘Fake news’: Channel 9 fans the flames of Slater civil war over Selwyn Cobbo rift

Maroons coach Billy Slater has bristled at the suggestion from a Nine Network colleague that he is not getting along with star outside back Selwyn Cobbo, with those in Qld camp believing it’s a part of a NSW mind game.

QLD Origin training at Sanctuary Cove. Coach Billy Slater. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The final game of the State of Origin series is threatening to drive a wedge through the ranks of host broadcaster Channel 9 after Queensland coach Billy Slater accused one of his stablemates at the network of “fake news” over suggestions Selwyn Cobbo was at odds with Maroons coaching staff.

A year after relations between Blues coach Brad Fittler and the media plumbed new depths following another losing series and his dismissal, Slater has taken aim at one of his own over the Cobbo claims.

Nine’s Sydney league reporter Danny Weidler aired the claims on Monday night, suggesting Cobbo wasn’t seeing eye-to-eye with some of the Queensland coaching staff.

Slater bristled on Tuesday afternoon when asked about the Cobbo rumours at his final press conference before Origin III.

“I actually haven’t seen Selwyn more happy or more engaged in his football,” he said.

“He’s had a great week. He is ready to play. Gone are the days you have to report the truth. I don’t know where that’s come from but it’s totally fake news. That’s the first I’ve heard of it.

“He was having a conversation with some of the coaching staff yesterday about how well his week’s gone and he’s ready to play.

“I honestly don’t know where that’s come from.”

Billy Slater has bristled at suggestions there’s a rift in Queensland camp. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Slater further insisted his relationship with Cobbo couldn’t be stronger – the Brisbane Broncos centre was dropped for Origin II after Slater revealed he had been playing with an injury and needed a rest.

“For me to talk about this is totally irrelevant 24 hours before a game,” Slater said.

“Selwyn and I are fine. That’s total fake news, honestly. The accountability to report the truth is obviously not there to throw that sort of stuff out.

“I’ve liked plenty of what Selwyn brings to a football team. He is a good player. He wasn’t quite right to play game two and he’d be the first to admit that.

“He’s good to go now. He’s had a good week at training, is physically ready and had a great preparation. He is ready to play.”

This masthead was also told that Cobbo’s relationship with members of the Queensland coaching staff had soured but opted not to run the story when we were unable to confirm its veracity.

Slater says he and Selwyn Cobbo are fine. Picture: Nigel Hallett

However, the Maroons believe the rumours may have emanated from the NSW camp, continuing the mind games between the sides in the lead-up to what promises to be an explosive finale at Suncorp Stadium.

NSW coach Michael Maguire has lobbed a series of grenades at the Slater and his side, suggesting after the Blues lost in Sydney that some in the Queensland camp lived in “glass houses”.

That was taken as a shot at Slater himself, although the Queensland coach opted to take the high ground rather than engage in a slanging match with his Blues counterpart.

Maguire then doubled down after victory in Origin II when he accused Maroons legend Gorden Tallis of living in a glass house over comments he made about NSW’s tactics on their way to levelling the series.

The drama between the two camps now threatens to spill over into the corridors of the Nine Network, where Slater and Weidler are both employed as part of the station’s rugby league coverage.

Slater certainly seemed unimpressed on Tuesday. The same issue reared its head last year when Fittler was on his last legs as Origin coach and the relationship between the former Blues coach and some of his fellow Nine staff soured as a result.