Billy Slater’s State of Origin snubbing by Maroons doesn’t stack up
THE greatest fullback of the modern era, it seems, is not good enough for Queensland anymore.
The Maroons have prided themselves on their loyalty policy for years. No matter the club form, if you’ve done the job before you’ll be back the next year.
That’s how we find ourselves in a situation where Justin O’Neill is effectively retained ahead of Slater.
O’Neill was solid last series and played for Australia at the end of the season but calling his 2017 form solid would be extremely generous.
By comparison, Slater has been magnificent. After barely strapping a boot on for two seasons he looks like he’s never left. The supreme positional play and the telepathic combination with Storm teammates — and Maroons mainstays — Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, it’s all come back. Even the speed, the raw, limitless pace that was once Slater’s trademark has come back.
In nine matches this season Slater has three tries, nine try assists, six line breaks, nine line break assists, 36 tackle busts and 15 offloads.
Those are phenomenal numbers.
Pick him at fullback and Boyd on the wing and you’ve got the old gang back together. You could even swap the two around in attack now and then if you wanted to offer something a little different.
If Johnathan Thurston is ruled out, the Maroons could fall back on Smith, Cronk and Slater, the most enduring and decorated playmaking combination perhaps in the history of Australian rugby league.
Instead, he will lean on a centre with one try and one line break in eight matches this season.
In being loyal to O’Neill and one series of competent play, Walters is ignoring a decade of brilliance.
Slater’s State of Origin career now looks over unless some injury befalls Boyd, a cruel end to a glittering career.
The Melbourne flyer is the best fullback Queensland have ever had, perhaps the best fullback ever to play this game.
Darius Boyd was excellent at the back last year. His playmaking class was the difference between the two sides.
But you can have that with him on the wing if you find the ways to implement him into the attack correctly.
Walters could have had his cake and eaten it too, by playing Boyd on the wing and Gagai at centre in place of O’Neill. Instead, he’s allowed the Queensland loyalty dream to twist his selections into madness.
While the Maroons coach was clearly emotional at the team announcement, his reasons for excluding Slater do not hold water.
Walters said: “It might have been a bit unfair on Billy to put him under pressure”. But Slater has played on that stage so many times, he is not a wide-eyed rookie.
Slater’s Maroons career will only be revived if injury befalls Boyd and no matter what public face they put on, the relationship between Slater and Walters will be strained to the brink.
If Queensland do lose the opening match of the series and need to travel to Sydney to stay alive the pressure will mount on Walters like it has on no Queensland coach since 2006.
Walters has created a rod for his own back and seemingly ended the Origin career of one of Queensland’s best ever.
All for an out-of-form centre, and loyalty.
