Billy Slater has rejected claims he is rattled ahead of State of Origin III, after breaking with tradition and pulling Queensland players from media interviews ahead of the decider.
Maroons management made the call to not have their players conduct one-on-one interviews in a full-squad media session, as is tradition in Origin camps. Players will still be available throughout the camp, with a limited number per day.
NSW conducted their own media day on Monday, making all 17 players available along with reserves Matt Burton and the dropped Haumole Olakau’atu.
Slater has traditionally been the more open of the two coaches in this year’s series, with Michael Maguire a reluctant media performer throughout his time in the NRL. But Queensland have opted to change tack for the decider, despite having hosting rights for Origin III. Regardless, Slater rejected any suggestion he was rattled.
“I am feeling good,” Slater said. “I am happy and I am looking forward to it. I was as disappointed as anyone after game two but time heals everything.”
Slater was adamant his decision to pull players from media was not performance-related, and had no bearing on their worst-ever first half of a game in Origin history in Melbourne. Instead the former Maroons fullback labelled criticism of access as unfair, pointing to the fact reporters are not allowed to stay beyond the first 15 minutes of NSW training sessions.
“You guys know the access to our players. We don’t get our full squad together until mid-afternoon today,” Slater said. “They have got some commercial arrangements with the QRL they need to fulfil and we have got to get some footy stuff done. You will have access to the majority of the players throughout the 10-day camp.
“We saw [at the fan day before game two] out at Toowoomba with 8,000 people turning up what we give to the people of Queensland and the access we give to our players. You guys see that. You get to come down to Sanctuary Cove and watch our training sessions. I feel the access is great. We couldn’t quite get everyone available but we do everything possible to get the voices of our players out to the people watching our games. I don’t think you should read into it too much.”
Blues coach Maguire said on Monday he was unsure if the Maroons were feeling the heat, but made clear his side was a team of the NSW people.
“I don’t know the reasons why they’re [not doing a media day], but with the enormity of what the Origin teams means to people, it’s the people’s team,” Maguire said. “We have spoken a lot about what this blue jersey means and what the people mean. Wherever you go people are talking about this team. It’s really nice to see, where over the years it has probably gone up and down at times.”
Slater has made key changes to his Maroons side with Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai and Selwyn Cobbo recalled, while Bradman Best will replace the injured Latrell Mitchell in one of two changes to Maguire’s NSW side.
Gold Coast forward David Fifita, who played all three Origin games for the Maroons last year, has again been overlooked in a controversial Queensland omission. Hamstring injuries to wingers Xavier Coates and Murray Taulagi forced Slater’s hand in one respect, but between them the recalled trio bring much-needed skill, power, pace, size and experience to the table after the Maroons were outmuscled and outclassed 38-18 in Origin II in Melbourne.
Newcastle fullback Ponga is a huge inclusion for the Suncorp Stadium showdown on 17 July after he returned successfully to the NRL in the Knights’ 16-12 win over Canberra on Sunday following 11 weeks on the sidelines with a Lisfranc injury to his foot.
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“Everytime you go through adversity, it builds that resilience in you. I have been through it as a player with injuries and setbacks and disappointments,” Slater said. “Kalyn has done that and he has really matured as a person and a footy player. It showed yesterday, to have the best part of three months off and come back and perform the way he did.”
For the Blues, Best will be tasked with filling the Mitchell-sized hole in the NSW backline after coach Maguire picked the Newcastle centre for the decider. Best is in line for just his second Origin appearance for the Blues after Mitchell succumbed to a foot injury following South Sydney’s win over Parramatta on Thursday.
The inclusion of 22-year-old Best at centre is one of two changes made by Maguire. Mitch Barnett comes in for Haumole Olakau’atu for his NSW debut with a view to overpowering a Queensland side who were unable to withstand the Blues’ relentless forward pack in game two in Melbourne.
Mitchell, meanwhile, will meet with a specialist over the coming days to see if he needs surgery on his foot. Surgery would probably rule Mitchell out of playing any further part in South Sydney’s season.
Queensland: 1.Reece Walsh, 2. Selwyn Cobbo, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 5. Valentine Holmes, 6. Tom Dearden, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (captain), 8. Reuben Cotter, 9. Ben Hunt, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 13. Pat Carrigan, 14. Harry Grant, 15. Mo Fotuaika, 16. Felise Kaufusi, 17. Kalyn Ponga.
NSW: Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Bradman Best, Zac Lomax, Jarome Luai, Mitch Moses, Jake Trbojevic (captain), Reece Robson, Payne Haas, Liam Martin, Angus Crichton, Cameron Murray. Bench: Connor Watson, Isaah Yeo, Mitchell Barnett, Spencer Leniu.