Billy Slater Hits Back at Aaron Woods Over ‘Grub’ Claims
In a dramatic press conference ahead of State of Origin II, Queensland coach Billy Slater launched a scathing attack on former NSW prop Aaron Woods, questioning his right to a media voice after being labelled a "grub" last week. The exchange has added fuel to the fire as the Maroons look to stay in the series at Perth Stadium on Wednesday night.
According to the ABC, Slater referenced late Queensland coach Paul Green in delivering a pointed take-down to Woods. Slater questioned reporters if they really wanted him to answer before unleashing on Woods with a rally-like speech.
"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," Slater said, as reported by the ABC. "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."
Slater also revealed that he had run into Woods at a football game a few weeks ago, where Woods had not voiced his opinion about Slater being a "grub". In fact, Woods had introduced his son to Slater on that occasion.
The ABC reported that Slater was then interrupted by an applause from the crowd at Perth’s public press conference, before telling them "I’m not done yet".
"You don’t know what people are going through," he continued. "And although I might be able to handle it, the next person mightn’t be. Maybe our last coach didn’t."
Slater made a clear reference to Paul Green, the former Queensland coach who took his own life in 2022. A post-mortem found that Green had been living with a "severe" and undiagnosed case of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
"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," Slater said.
The ABC reported that Tuesday’s press conference was expected to centre around Slater’s fight to keep the Maroons in the series and avoid a second straight defeat to NSW after last year’s capitulation.
Ahead of Wednesday night’s game, Slater has made a number of bold calls, including the axing of captain Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Dearden’s move to the number seven jersey.
Before a question was even asked by the press at Tuesday’s press conference, a member of the crowd yelled out "you’re under pressure Billy".
"What is pressure? To me, the opposite of pressure is comfort," Slater said. "So you’re either comfortable or you’re in a pressure situation. And I think you earn that opportunity, whether it’s a player or a coach.
"To be in this environment, you’ve earned that pressure. Because it means so much to the people of our states, it means so much to the people involved in the game.
"But of course there’s pressure. There was pressure in grand finals. There was pressure in State of Origin games and there still is.
"And the day there’s no pressure, I’ll be a bit worried."
As reported by the ABC, Slater’s comments have sparked a heated debate ahead of State of Origin II. The Maroons will be looking to bounce back from a tough loss in Game I, while the Blues will be seeking to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.
Billy Slater’s passionate defence of his character and his team has set the stage for a thrilling encounter at Perth Stadium on Wednesday night.
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