Billy Slater, head coach of the Queensland Maroons, has made headlines following a pointed response to Aaron Woods, who labeled him a “grub” during a Sydney radio segment. Slater is out on a limb with intense pressure already mounted following the Maroons’ loss in game one of this year’s State of Origin series. This exchange takes place in the shadow of that loss. Slater’s remarks took head-on Woods’s comments. He fearlessly tackled the taboo topic of mental health in sport, recalling the recent death of Queensland coach Paul Green.
Woods’s remarks result from the Firestorm of the Year in 2006. In that same game, Slater spiked Wests Tigers prop John Skandalis. Slater slammed down reporters’ questions. He followed up by directly rebutting Woods’s claims, underscoring the great burden that accompanies being a high-profile figure in media and athletics. He continued, “When you have a platform in media, or in our game, I think that’s a privilege. And with that privilege comes a responsibility.”
Things got a lot more serious when the topic turned to Paul Green, recalled Slater. Sadly, Green died by suicide in 2022 after a lifetime of suffering from undiagnosed Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Green was head coach of the Maroons in the 2021 series. His tragic passing raised awareness for mental health in the sports world. Slater highlighted that one should be mindful of the struggles people may face, saying, “You don’t know what people are going through.”
As Slater got ready for Wednesday night’s contest, he was going for broke. He butchered captain Daly Cherry-Evans and shifted Tom Dearden into the number seven jersey. His moves happen under minute analysis and high expectations from fans, journalists, and talking heads.
In the middle of one such press conference, a member of the audience called out, “You’re being cornered, Billy.” This remark led Slater to dig deeper into what pressure means to him. He remarked, “What is pressure? To me, the opposite of pressure is comfort.” He continued, “Because you’re either in a comfort zone or you’re in a stress zone. And I feel like you earn that right, whether that’s a player or a coach.”
Slater didn’t stop there – his actions against Woods were a powerful signal. He cautioned commentators to be deliberate with their language. Beyond the recognition, he highlighted the tremendous weight of their words. This is particularly the case in light of recent tragedies involving mental health and sports.
In his remarks about Woods, Slater underscored their first meeting. He noted that in all their interactions, Woods never indicated any ill will toward him on that fateful visit. “I know Aaron Woods. I actually ran into him three or four weeks ago at a footy game and he didn’t voice that opinion then. He actually brought his son over to introduce him to me,” said Slater, suggesting that such public criticisms should be approached with more thoughtfulness.
As Slater steps into the upcoming match, he carries not only the weight of team expectations but the responsibility of setting an example in how athletes and commentators interact. His comments serve as a poignant reminder of the need for empathy and understanding in sports, especially given the pressure athletes face both on and off the field.
