Latest news with #StateofOriginGame2
Mercury
2 days ago
- Sport
- Mercury
Cameron Munster's X-rated victory speech as Queensland rock NSW in State of Origin Game 2 classic
Queensland has narrowly survived what would have been the biggest comeback in Origin history to tie the series up at 1-1 after an all-time classic. The Maroons strolled into halftime leading 26-6, but in appalling conditions, the Blues scored four second-half tries to make the score 26-24 with six minutes remaining. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. But they were left to rue some missed shots on goal as they weren't able to add any more points to their total, with the Maroons sending the series to a decider in Sydney. After an unusually subdued build-up to Game 1, which NSW claimed 18-6 in Brisbane, a feud between Maroons coach Billy Slater and former Blue Aaron Woods dominated talk ahead of Game 2 in Perth. Woods called Slater a 'grub' last week, with the former fullback responding in an extraordinary press conference on Tuesday when he referenced mental health concerns and the death of former Queensland coach Paul Green. Slater, 41, then fronted another press conference on game day to apologise for those remarks in a saga that has quickly been labelled 'Grubgate'. It all created a slightly uncomfortable air ahead of Game 2, but it was all forgotten once they match got underway. After Brian To'o's sixth-minute try for the Blues, the Queenslanders caught fire, scoring four tries in 24 minutes to turn the match around. Laurie Daley's side had a mountain to climb in the second half and nearly pulled it off before falling just short in one of the better Origins in recent memory. And speaking after the match Queensland captain Cameron Munster said the whole team wanted to get the win for their coach. 'With all the pressure and criticism that Billy Slater has been getting, we're just glad we played for him tonight,' Munster said on Channel 9. 'He deserves everything, he loves Queensland and he loves this group. 'There's been a lot of speculation in the media, we needed to turn up for our coach tonight and we f-----g did.' After Game 1 was rubbished by many for lacking the usual Origin intensity, Game 2 hit all the right notes and we're now set for a huge finale as the Blues chase consecutive series wins. Recap how the night unfolded with our live updates below. Originally published as State of Origin Game 2: Maroons hang on in a classic
Herald Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
NRL world turns on Billy Slater over State of Origin comment
Billy Slater has issued a public apology over his controversial press conference comments on Tuesday. The Queensland coach has been facing a backlash after his 'dark' decision to bring up the suicide of former Cowboys and Queensland coach Paul Green while responding to being called a 'grub' by former NSW rival Aaron Woods. The 41-year-old caused uproar in his final press conference ahead of Wednesday night's do-or-die State of Origin Game 2 in Perth. Slater has now stood in front of TV cameras again as the Queensland camp called a snap media appearance at the team's hotel. Slater read out a prepared statement. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. 'Yesterday I wrongly made the link between Paul Green's death and the stress and pressures of coaching, which wasn't accurate,' he said. 'Nor was it appropriate.' He said he had spoken to Green's wife Amanda. 'I feel terrible about what I said and I spoke to Amanda Green this morning and apologised for any hurt that it may have caused her and her family. 'I just want to say this, Paul had CTE. It's a different disease to what I was referring to . Once again I'm deeply and genuinely sorry. Thank you.' The Storm icon's public appearance in front of fans in Perth on Tuesday had been dominated by his response to a personal sledge fired by Woods last week. The former NSW forward called Slater a 'grub' while also criticising the premiership-winning fullback for his decision to axe former captain Daly Cherry-Evans after the Maroons were blown off the park in the series opener. The former Wests Tigers captain was heavily criticised by some Queensland figures, including Broncos icon Gorden Tallis, for his public swipe at Slater. But there has been a dramatic twist in the public relations battle since Slater's response in Perth. Slater was visibly emotional when he made reference to Green, who tragically took his own life in 2022 — one year before Slater took the job. The 41-year-old scolded Woods by suggesting the comments were in poor taste, considering the potential impact such comments can have on people's mental health. Woods, who retired at the end of the 2024 NRL season, on Wednesday morning responded by calling Slater's comments about Green 'completely unnecessary'. 'It's a hard position he's in at the moment,' Woods said on Triple M. 'He's lost game one of the series up in Queensland. 'He's coming off a losing series which was a decider in Queensland as well. 'So he's under a lot of pressure. 'But one in particular comment that he did make. I just thought Billy went a little bit over the boundary. I just think it was completely unnecessary for the situation.' Former NRL star Beau Ryan, who is also Woods' co-host, was also critical of Slater. 'It took a dark turn yesterday. From where I'm standing, Billy was waving the white flag,' he said. 'It looked like he's had a week to reply, you've called him a grub - I don't know if grub means something different in Queensland - he was a grubby player and all that. 'It's festered out of proportion and it's been the only thing people have been talking about before the game, which isn't right.' Slater has been facing a backlash since his press conference with commentators going public with criticism of the coach. Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said on his SEN Breakfast show Slater had missed the mark. 'I think Billy was out of order referencing the late Paul Green. He went too far,' he said. 'Deal with your own response but don't bring others into it. That was beyond talking about Origin. 'Maybe Billy regrets that but the way he delivered it, it wasn't off the cuff.' Newcastle icon Matthew Johns was visibly staggered when first hearing Slater's comments. SEN has shared a video on X showing Johns' jaw dropped when audio from Slater's press conference was played. 'Whether it's in banter, theatre, whatever it is - if you do say something about someone, and it is personal, then you hand them immediately a right of reply,' Johns told SEN 1170. 'Billy's used that right of reply and he's certainly taken a long handle to it. I have no doubt that Woodsy's building up the theatre. 'When he said, first of all, Billy's a grub, I sort of thought - it's a bit of fun - and then I thought this is sort of starting to get into the personal area. 'In his heart of hearts, Woodsy just meant it purely as banter but it hasn't been taken that way and when you say something like that - then you run the risk of that.' Johns is one of many to suggest Slater had a pre-prepared answer knowing he was going to be asked about Woods during the public appearance. 'He's certainly taken the long handle to it,' Johns said. 'I did laugh when Pete (journalist Pete Badel) asked him the question and he (Slater) said, 'Do you really want me to answer that?' 'He had a very well thought out answer.' Slater's stance has clearly irked others in the game with fans quick to point out times he caused offence with his comments. The legendary fullback was in 2010 forced to admit he 'overstepped the mark' by taunting Newcastle's Cory Paterson over his battle with depression It was reported at the time Slater told Paterson during a skirmish on the field: 'Go and have a cry in your room'. Paterson had the previous year taken a step away from the game to manage his mental health. Slater finished his career as one of the greatest players of the modern era, but his stature in the game has somewhat been diminished by his record of being cited for 10 offences by the NRL Match Review during the course of his 319 games. He was suspended for a total of 13 matches. That behaviour has been questioned again in light of Slater's apparent offence to the term 'grub'. Aussie sport journalist Alicia Newton posted on X the term 'grub' means 'nothing'. 'And Slater was a grub in his playing days which is what Woods was talking about in the first place,' she wrote. 'It's just weird to bring Green's name up in what's been a very boring Origin series so far. Wasn't required but desperate times.' She went on to post: 'Feel for Paul Green's family, absolutely no need to bring his name into it. Slater running out of answers if that's how he wants to fire up Queensland. 'Was OK for Blues player to be labelled a grub three weeks ago… the hypocrites in rugba league are astonishing.' Veteran Australian sport journalist Bernie Cohen wrote: 'Billy Slater may be a legend to some people in rugby league but imo bringing up Paul Green at today's presser was a bloody disgrace'. One NRL fan posted: 'Billy Slater is not only a grub, he's a hypocritical grub of the highest order to also bring Paul Green into it'. Another fan suggested: 'Billy Slater exploiting Paul Green's passing to claim some lame moral high ground over a contrived #origin sledge is quite frankly pathetic and probably highlights the reason why he was called a grub during his playing days'. Slater earlier called Woods' position in the media into question. '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,' the Channel 9 commentator began. '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. 'Now, I know Aaron Woods. I actually ran into him about three or four weeks ago at a footy game and he didn't voice that opinion then. 'He actually brought his son over and introduced him to me. 'And I get the attention in our game. I get that. Our game creates attention, but there's a responsibility with that attention, all right? 'When you degrade someone personally in a derogatory manner, you probably don't deserve one of those privileged positions that you're all in, that we're all in.' The press conference was held in a public, outdoor forum and Slater's comments received some applause from the crowd. But the 41-year-old wasn't finished and gave some insights into his emotional response when he referenced former Maroons coach Green, who held the position for one year before Slater and tragically took his own life in 2022. 'I'm not done yet,' Slater continued. 'You don't know what people are going through and although I might be able to handle it, the next person mightn't be. 'Maybe our last coach (Green) didn't. '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 about someone. 'There's your answer.' Rugby league journalists staggered by Slater reply Slater's comments were discussed on Fox League's NRL 360 on Tuesday night, with panellists Paul Crawley and Dean Ritchie both questioning whether Slater had crossed a line by mentioning Green's name. They also queried whether the 'grub' comment was strong enough to push Slater to make his remarks. The Courier-Mail had a front-page headline of 'Smash this Blues grub' in reference to NSW enforcer Spencer Leniu prior to this year's Game 1. Journalist Peter Badel, who put the Woods question to Slater at the press conference, was asked about it all on the Fox League show. 'It was quite amazing,' he said. 'To be honest I expected him to dead bat the question as he tends to do. 'The response … I don't think any of us expected it. It was pretty dramatic, it was pretty cutting, it was a withering attack on Aaron Woods. 'He inferred that he was two-faced, suggested it was degrading and as a commentator he should consider his position moving forward. 'Then the bombshell moment, he didn't mention Paul Green personally but did mention Queensland's last coach. 'If he had his time again, maybe he doesn't mention Paul Green's name.' Back in 2021 Green lost his opening two matches in charge of Queensland, 50-6 and 26-0, before winning Game 3 20-18 during a series impacted by Covid. The former Queensland and NRL halfback then took his own life aged 49 in August the following year. Originally published as Billy Slater apologises for 'disgraceful' comment after fierce backlash
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Munster's admission about late night Slater text after being named QLD captain
Cameron Munster has opened up about his shock appointment as Queensland captain and the late night text from coach Billy Slater that had him fearing the worst. The Maroons coach confirmed on Tuesday that Munster would succeed axed skipper Daly Cherry-Evans and lead the side in the must-win State of Origin Game 2 clash against the Blues in Perth on June 18. Munster admits it's a bitter-sweet feeling taking over the captaincy from his 'close mate' DCE but is 'excited' to be handed the honour of leading his state. But the Storm playmaker said he thought Slater was ready to deliver some bad news when he texted Munster to have a late-night conversation at Maroons camp. 'At 9:30 last night Billy just messaged me saying 'are you around?'. I said 'yeah, I'm just sitting in my room' and he's like 'come to my room',' Munster told reporters on Tuesday. 'I was thinking 'what could this be about?' I could be getting dropped or maybe I'm 18th man or something like that.' The news turned out to be better than Munster could have imagined, with Slater choosing the five-eighth to lead the state, ahead of other Maroons captaincy candidates Patrick Carrigan, Harry Grant and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui - the latter two of which are skippers at their clubs. 'Billy just brought me into the room, said 'look mate, I want you to be the captain for Queensland and I think you will do a great job',' he said. 'He pretty much just told me to lead by my actions, I don't need to be a talker or go out there and try to motivate the boys, they have enough motivation as it is.' Munster has always been regarded as a rugby league larrikin but has grown into a leadership role at Melbourne and is undeniably one of Queensland's most passionate and influential players. Even still, captaining his state is something he never imagined. 'It's pretty emotional, if you asked me that question five or ten years ago everyone would have laughed in your face,' Munster said. 'I think I have developed into a bit of a leadership role over the last three or four years, grown up a little bit. I know that's hard to say." Munster says it's 'disappointing' to see his good friend Cherry-Evans axed from the side and feared replacement No.7 Tom Dearden might take his spot, instead of the former skipper's. 'He's been playing some great footy, unfortunately one of my good mates Chez had to be left out, he's breathing down both our necks, Tommy,' the new Maroons skipper said. 'We had to find a spot for him and look he's been playing some great footy the past couple of years... made that position his own for Australia. I'm really fortunate to play alongside him and I am really excited to see what combination we can bring on Wednesday.' Slater looks set to make a number of eye-opening changes to his squad as they look to keep the Origin series alive in Perth. Having dropped Beau Fermor and brought Kurt Capewell into the squad, the Maroons coach has named the veteran Warriors player to start in the back row alongside Reuben Cotter, with Jeremiah Nanai shifting to the bench. But the biggest shock centres around the demotion of veteran lock Carrigan, who has been named to start off the bench, with Slater handing the No.13 jersey to Storm star Trent Loeiro. Bulldogs utility Kurt Mann takes over the No.14 role from Dearden after missing out on Game 1 as 18th man, with that role set to go to controversial Brisbane playmaker, Ezra Mam. Jack Howarth and Corey Horsburgh are the other two reserves in the Maroons' 20-man squad.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NRL fans all say same thing after eye-opening vision emerges of Latrell Mitchell
South Sydney Rabbitohs fans are starting to get excited after the club released footage of Latrell Mitchell back at training and the star fullback is looking sharp ahead of a return. The Rabbitohs were absolutely devastated ahead of round one when both Cameron Murray and Mitchell went down injured in training. While Murray could be out for the majority of the season, Mitchell was looking at around eight weeks on the sideline. This was a shame for the Rabbitohs fullback who was looking in top shape during pre-season. Incredibly, the Rabbitohs have started 2-0 in 2025 - despite a mounting injury toll - and young fullback Jye Gray has impressed wearing the No.1 jersey. This has opened up the debate on whether Gray should retain the No.1 jersey when Mitchell returns. Although fans are starting to get excited again after footage showed Mitchell going through drills at South Sydneys headquarters only five weeks after the injury. And the sentiment is Mitchell looks in sensational shape as he looks to silence his doubters in 2025. The fullback reportedly locked into pre-season training with his old mentor returning to the club. One fan noted it looks like Mitchell has a point to prove after a turbulent season in 2024. Mitchell was a star for NSW in State of Origin Game 2 last year having torn Queensland apart on the left edge. However, he hardly played for the Rabbitohs after the mid-season Origin game having injured his troubled calf. Mitchell was then suspended for one game and then copped a $20,000 fine after a photo emerged of him with what appeared to be a white substance during a trip to Dubbo for coaching clinics last year. The fullback largely stayed out of the media in the off-season and appeared to be working hard in solitude in a bid to prove all his critics wrong. Rabbitohs fans will welcome back Mitchell with the likes of Tyrone Munro, Euan Aitken and Murray all missing games to start the season. Lachlan Hubner and Jack Wighton have also copped suspensions. Trell looks good. I hope that he can return soon. ❤️💚🐰💪💪 — Karina Haase (@KarinaHaase) March 19, 2025 He looks in immense shape @LordRawls — Kai (@Kait8908) March 19, 2025 Damnnnn trell looks fit! — c (@chrispopovic28) March 19, 2025 Trell lookin like he's got a point to prove this year — user (@AustraliaSniper) March 19, 2025 While fans are excited, the biggest question is where Mitchell returns with Gray setting the standard early in the season. The young Rabbitohs fullback sits second on the Dally M count after two rounds having played a pivotal role for South Sydney to start the season. In the absence of Mitchell, Gray has improved on his debut season last year and taken his game to another level. Gray ran for a staggering 256 metres, he also ran for more than 200 metres last week, made a linebreak and opened the scoring against the Dragons on the weekend. Jamie Humphreys may have received the plaudits for icing the field goal in the 25-24 victory, but it was Gray's industrious work that helped turn the Rabbitohs around. And his two energetic performances continues to raise questions to where Mitchell will slide back in when he returns. Footage shows Mitchell is getting closer to returning. And it is no secret the 27-year-old prefers to play fullback having held the Rabbitohs No.1 jersey for the last few years. But Mitchell made his name as a centre for the Roosters and represented NSW during State of Origin last year in this position. Wayne Bennett may have been set to start Mitchell at fullback for his first game back as coach of the Rabbitohs, but the scenario has slightly changed due to Gray's displays. Regardless, Mitchell will be a huge addition to the team in either the No.1 jersey or at centre.
