Slater’s efforts rated among State of Origin’s greatest
Scott Bailey and Alex Mitchell |
Queensland Rugby League boss Ben Ikin has lauded Billy Slater’s brave coaching, placing the backs-to-the-wall State of Origin success among the Maroons’ greatest.
Wednesday night’s Origin win immediately earned the 2025 Maroons a place in Queensland folklore, after coming back from 1-0 down with two wins on the road.
It was only a month ago Slater looked under pressure to keep his job, after dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans.
Questions were also asked after Pat Carrigan and Jeremiah Nanai were dropped to the bench for game two, with Kurt Capewell recalled despite defensive concerns.
Slater then banked on Brisbane train-and-triallist Gehamat Shibasaki for the decider, in one of the most inexperienced centre pairings in history alongside Robert Toia.
Veteran prop Josh Papali’i’s recall from Origin retirement was also inspirational, three years after his last game for Queensland.
The call to drop Cherry-Evans was also vindicated, with replacement Tom Dearden man of the series and leading a near-perfect attack and gutsy defence in Sydney.
“It was incredible stuff,” QRL chief executive Ikin told AAP.
“It’s one thing making the calls. The second part is making sure that everybody believes that they’re the right calls for the team.
“Whatever he did in those camps, however he coaches, he got them to bite down on the things that he thought the team could achieve, and why the changes were right.
“It was brave. I don’t think many people would have had the courage to do what he did … but ultimately it proved to be a winning formula.”
Ikin was one of the faces of Queensland’s most unlikely series win, as an 18-year-old in Paul Vautin’s 1995 “Neville Nobodies” during the Super League war.
Queensland used that series as inspiration this year, watching highlights in camp, having “1995” written on their sleeves and shouting it out in defence late in Perth.
Ikin was chuffed that the 1995 group still provided motivation, labelling this year’s win as “brave” and among Queensland’s most special.
Similarities have also been drawn with the 2020 success when the Maroons were decimated, labelled the state’s worst team ever.
Queensland made a point to write their own history in recent weeks, having never before overcome a game-one loss at home with the last two matches on the road.
They were then shattered by the sudden passing of captain Cameron Munster’s father on Sunday, before he returned to camp to lead the side and lift the shield.
“They’re right up there (among the gutsiest series wins),” said Slater, who has now won three Origin series in four attempts as coach.
“It is a true Queensland team. It’s been a true Queensland performance. That’s no disrespect to anyone else, but you look over the history of this footy team.
“I’ve been proud of this group a number of times over the last four years, and I don’t know if I’ve been any more proud than (now).”
Afterwards, Maroons players admitted criticism in the lead-up to game two had spurred them on for the unlikely comeback.
“I don’t know why everyone is comparing us with the (Neville Nobodies),” prop Lindsay Collins said.
“There was a lot of talk around this Origin, but we have so many stars in our team and so much belief.
“It was a bit hard to hear that criticism. It did add a little bit of fuel for us.”
Fellow front-rower Tino Fa’asuamaleaui said it also inspired him.
“We created history,” he said. “They’re not the only two years they ruled us out, they rule us out every year. To get the win again … what are they going to say now?”
AAP
