At a press conference held prior to the State of Origin series opener, Billy Slater maintained his composed demeanour while sidestepping questions regarding Queensland’s ongoing feud with Spencer Leniu. The front-rower is set to face considerable animosity as he prepares for the clash at Suncorp Stadium, following a notable encounter with Maroons legend, Johnathan Thurston, earlier this year.
Tensions were heightened with a provocative headline from The Courier Mail, which encouraged players to “smash this NSW grub.” However, Slater and the coaching staff appeared unfazed by the media’s agitation, with Slater stating that he had not seen the headline and reaffirmed that it did not originate from within their camp. He emphasised, “Those things are out of our control. We can’t control a lot of things that happen, but we can control how we play.”
Leniu’s reputation for a fiery playing style, combined with his recent on-field dispute with Thurston, has positioned him as a target for Queensland players once he enters the match from the bench. As the lead-up to the Origin series continues, discussions have emerged about the relatively low levels of trash talk and rivalry narratives this year. Slater, however, believes this absence of off-field drama does not detract from the excitement of the game. He remarked, “The game sells itself… If you need the bitter feud off the field, you’re probably not doing the job on the field.”
In addition to addressing Leniu, Slater acknowledged recent controversies in the NSW camp, including the so-called spygate scandal. While he admitted to being unaware of the details, he advised that they must remain vigilant should Stephen Crichton miss out due to injury and be substituted by Campbell Graham, as he brings different strengths to the game.
Reflecting on all the pre-match chatter, Slater’s focus remained firm on the task at hand, reiterating that their preparations and gameplay are what truly matter as they enter this significant series.