‘He’s braver on the mic’: Gorden Tallis takes aim at Aaron Woods snubbing of Billy Slater ahead of Origin II

Queensland great Gorden Tallis has had enough of the attacks on Billy Slater, drawing a line in the sand after a former NSW star called him a “grub”.

Maroons legend Gorden Tallis has fired back at rival New South Welshman Aaron Woods who labelled Queensland coach Billy Slater a “grub” in the lead up to State of Origin Game II.

Woods, who played 14 games for NSW between 2013 and 2017, sparked debate last week when he publicly called out Slater on Triple M after the decision to drop veteran halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.

But on Sunday, Tallis on Triple M’s Sunday Sin Bin program retaliated in defence of his statesmen, calling out Woods’ character during his time as a player compared to his career now in media.

“He got sacked from six clubs so he knows what it feels like, and when Queensland start listening to a bloke that played his last six years in reserve grade, we’ve got problems,” Tallis said.

“He wasn’t that brave when he was a player, he’s braver on the mic. That’s a good comeback, isn’t it?

“He wouldn’t have said that when he was playing, so that’s my point.”

Aaron Woods, pictured with actor Anthony Mackie, is no fan of Billy Slater. Digital image by Grant Trouville

Billy Slater was called a “grub” by Woods. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Tallis criticised Wood’s comparisons of Slater’s negative moments during his playing days to his coaching ability.

“If you didn’t say that (he was a grub) when you were playing against him and you keep on holding him accountable for what he did as a player, we’re all in deep sh*t here.

“Every single person in our game has done something wrong. But as a coach I think he’s doing a pretty good job.

“You know, Woodsy went and took his son about a month ago and got a photo taken with him (Slater), and if I thought someone was a grub you wouldn’t go ask him for a photo.”

In an attempt to rile up Queenslanders ahead of their must-win Origin clash in Perth, Woods took it upon himself to recreate the rivalry of last year’s series.

Tallis said Woods was “braver on the mic” than as a player. Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

The Triple M radio host thought Slater abandoning the “pick and stick” mentality following Game I’s 18-6 loss was ironic given the coach’s press conference after the match.

“To me that’s p**s poor form from Billy Slater,” Woods said.

“After Game I in your press conference you said it wasn’t about the personnel, you said you didn’t play too well.

“You’ve come out and axed your captain Daly Cherry-Evans. You’ve said it wasn’t a scapegoat, but mate it’s a scapegoat.

“It’s so funny because you watch these blokes up north and they say we don’t get Origin and they use this pick and stick mentality. Well Billy you’ve just turned on your skipper.

Woods, who came up against Slater during their playing days in Origin, labelled his old opponent a “grub” in the leadup to Game II on Wednesday. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images.

“I want to see the real Billy Slater come out – the grub that we know of. This is a bloke who kicked John Skandalis in the head and got a six-week suspension.

He doubled down when explaining his comments, while sitting next to Tallis, on NRL360.

“It’s been a real poor build up to Origin. Game I was pretty boring, I thought the standard, the intensity on the field, the referee blew the pea out of the whistle and the game just didn’t live up to what I thought it was going to be,” Woods said.

“So I just thought someone needed to say something, ruffle up a few feathers.”

But Woods believes Queensland shouldn’t need a retired ex-player to ignite them for an Origin matchup.

“If they’re relying on me to say some words and use that as motivation, I think that’s pretty disappointing for a Queenslander,” Woods said.

Originally published as ‘He’s braver on the mic’: Gorden Tallis takes aim at Aaron Woods snubbing of Billy Slater ahead of Origin II