Former NSW Blues player Aaron Woods has clarified that his son never took a photo with Billy Slater, following a feud that arose after Woods referred to Slater as a “grub” ahead of State of Origin II. This comment led to a backlash from Slater’s former teammate, Ryan Hoffman, who called Woods a “coward” on ABC Radio, alleging that Woods had requested a photo with Slater for his son.
In response, Woods asserted that the photo never happened and subsequently reached out to Hoffman to address the accusations. In an interview with Paul Kent on his podcast, Woods expressed his annoyance at Hofmann’s comments involving his son, reiterating that his child, Buster, did not have a photo with Slater.
Woods explained that the incident in question occurred during Magic Round when he was commentating for Triple M. He recounted a scene at Suncorp Stadium where he and Buster were preparing for a Newcastle vs. Souths match. As they descended in the lift, they encountered Slater. Woods greeted him and introduced Buster, who later asked, “Who’s that Dad?” Woods told him that Slater was among the best fullbacks in the game, emphasising that this brief encounter was misrepresented.
Woods felt the narrative surrounding the exchange was exaggerated, indicating that only a few people could have misinterpreted or relayed the situation to Gorden Tallis, who made the initial claim. The whole saga intensified when Slater, referencing Woods’ comments, incorrectly mentioned late Maroons coach Paul Green in a discussion about mental health impact, further escalating tensions.
Reflecting on the outcomes of the games, Woods admitted feeling some responsibility for stirring up emotions prior to Queensland’s comeback wins in the subsequent matches. He had initially felt confident about NSW’s chances against Queensland but was taken aback by their performance in the following game, leaving him to ponder the repercussions of his comments.
Despite the debacle, Woods has maintained his stance on the incident regarding his son and hopes that future discussions will focus on sportsmanship rather than personal disputes.