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Slater joins list of rookie Origin coaches
Queensland mentor Billy Slater will become the fourth man to lead a State of Origin side without prior first-grade head-coaching experience in Australia.
STATE OF ORIGIN’S ROOKIE COACHES:
PAUL VAUTIN (Queensland)
Arguably the most famous tale of any State of Origin coaching career came without any experience at club level. Vautin was thrown into the deep end when the Super League war robbed the Maroons of several Brisbane and Canberra stars as well as coach Wayne Bennett. Vautin helped inspire Queensland to a shock 3-0 whitewash, forever etching his name in Origin history. However Queensland were beaten 3-0 the following year and 2-1 in 1997, ending his tenure as coach.
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LAURIE DALEY (NSW)
Had the unenviable task of tackling a Queensland side at the height of their dominance when he took over from Ricky Stuart in 2013. With his only coaching experience with Country Origin previously, Daley had NSW within two points of ending Queensland’s run in the 2013 decider. He famously helped break the Blues’ drought with the 2014 series victory, but normal service was resumed in 2015 with a Maroons win. NSW lost again in 2016 and when they let a 1-0 advantage and 16-6 lead slip in Game II in 2017, Daley was axed after the series with a 6-9 record.
KEVIN WALTERS (Queensland)
Took over from Mal Meninga in 2016 after years of serving as an assistant at both State of Origin and NRL level as well as with a brief stint in charge of Catalans in the English Super League. Had immediate success when Queensland grinded their way to a win in Game I in Sydney, before wrapping up the shield three weeks later in Brisbane. Made it two series wins from two attempts the following year, before being forced to deal with the end of an era as the likes of Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater all exited. Series losses followed in 2018 and 2019, before Walters left to take up the top job at Brisbane just weeks before the end-of-season 2020 series.
BILLY SLATER (Queensland)
Will take on the job with extremely limited coaching experience, having only previously assisted as a specialist coach with Melbourne at club level. Instead, the Maroons’ staff is built on winning experience rather than coaching history. Slater has brought the likes of Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston into the fold, while retaining Josh Hannay, Nate Myles and Allan Langer in the camp. Players have responded too, praising Slater’s all-round knowledge rather than just in the fullback position.
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
3 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
1 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
3 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to comments