Slater Apologises for Comments on Paul Green’s Death
In a dramatic turn of events, Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has apologised for his comments on the death of former coach Paul Green, which sparked a strong backlash on Wednesday morning. According to reports from the Sydney Morning Herald, Slater implied that Green had taken his own life in 2022 as a result of the pressures of coaching and public criticism.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Green’s family insisted the 49-year-old suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head. Slater, in a press conference held just hours before Queensland’s attempt to save the Origin series against NSW at Optus Stadium, apologised for making the link between Green’s death and the stress and pressures of coaching. "Yesterday, I wrongly made the link between Paul Green’s death and the stress and pressures of coaching, which wasn’t accurate, nor was it appropriate," Slater said, as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Slater also spoke to Amanda Green, Paul’s wife, and apologised for any hurt that may have been caused to her and her family. "Paul had CTE, which is a different disease to what I was referring to. Once again, I’m deeply and genuinely sorry," Slater added. The incident occurred after a heated exchange between Slater and NSW Blues prop James Woods, who had called Slater a "grub" in a post-match interview.
As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Woods hit back at Slater on Triple M on Wednesday morning, suggesting that the reference to Green was "completely unnecessary". "I [made] those comments I last Tuesday, so that was a week ago," Woods said. "I stand by them. It’s part of something I said in the lead-up to this game. [Slater] has had seven days to reply. He’s taken his time. He’s been very well thought out. He’s been very measured in what he’s had to say."
The Sydney Morning Herald also reported that Beau Ryan, a former Wests Tigers teammate of Woods and colleague of Woods on Triple M, downplayed the incident, saying that it had been "blown out of proportion". "I don’t know if ‘grub’ means something different in Queensland … this has festered, it’s been blown out of proportion, and it’s the only thing people are talking about before the game, which isn’t right," Ryan said.
Meanwhile, NSW Blues’ assistant coach Matt King, a former Melbourne Storm teammate of Slater, defended his character, saying that he had a "very strong relationship" with Slater and respected him as a person. "I have a very strong relationship with Billy Slater. Billy’s character has never come into question for me, he’s a good man, I respect Billy, and I know his family really well," King said, as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.
In conclusion, the incident has sparked a heated debate in the rugby league community, with many calling for greater respect and sportsmanship in the game. As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Slater’s apology has been seen as a step in the right direction, but the incident serves as a reminder of the pressures and stresses that athletes and coaches face, both on and off the field.
