Queensland coach Billy Slater has shot down claims of a clash between himself and Selwyn Cobbo at training ahead of the State of Origin decider. Leading NRL journalist Danny Weidler went public with the claims on Tuesday morning, reporting that Slater and Cobbo had clashed over their differing views on training and weren’t “seeing eye-to-eye”.
Weidler said Cobbo is known to “run to his own beat”, while Slater wants his players to be more disciplined and have a mentality of “extras beyond extras”. Weidler said on Sky Sports radio: “Maybe it’s a natural clash and maybe it’s something that can be sorted out. He (Cobbo) wasn’t there in Game 2, but do we know why? We’ve heard explanations, but do we really know why?”
Billy Slater hits back over claims of clash with Selwyn Cobbo
The claims were put to Slater later on Tuesday, and the Maroons coach was quick to deny them. “I actually haven’t seen Selwyn more happy, I haven’t seen him more engaged in his football and he’s had a great week,” the coach told reporters. “He is ready to play – gone are the days that you’ve got to report the truth. I don’t know where that’s come from, but it’s totally fake news.
“Danny Weidler, I’m not sure, that’s honestly the first I’ve heard of it. I was actually having a conversation yesterday with some of the coaching staff about how well his week has gone and he is ready to play.
“[My relationship] with Selwyn? It couldn’t be stronger, I can’t be more clear of that. For me to talk about this is totally irrelevant 24 hours before a game. Selwyn and I are fine and that’s total fake news.
“Honestly, the accountability to report the truth is obviously not there, to throw that sort of stuff out. I like plenty about what Selwyn brings to the footy team. He just wasn’t quite right to play in Game 2 and he will be the first to admit that – but he’s good to go now.”
Selwyn Cobbo back after being dropped for State of Origin 2
Slater and the Maroons have won the last two State of series, but were thrashed in Game 2 at the MCG to send the series to a live decider on Wednesday night. A number of NSW greats have claimed Slater is feeling the pressure like never before, and the reports about Cobbo have only added fuel to the fire.
Cobbo is back in the Queensland team for Origin 3 after being dropped for Game 2, but Weidler reported that his attitude has left the Queensland coaching staff concerned. Weidler predicted that Slater would deny the claims, but suggested it could be part of the reason Cobbo wasn’t selected for Game 2.
At the time of naming his side for Game 2, Slater said Cobbo had been dealing with a few niggling injuries and wasn’t in the right frame of mind to play. Queensland selector Darren Lockyer later revealed that Cobbo had admitted to Slater he probably wasn’t up for the task.
“I congratulate Selwyn for being open and honest about it,” Lockyer said. “He is carrying a few niggles at the moment and I think it’s affecting him mentally. He was pretty open and honest with Billy about whether he was capable of performing in that arena and there is nowhere to hide in Origin. He’s young and it’s not like it’s over, he will be back in the Maroons jersey at some point, but now is just not the right time to push him physically and mentally.”
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Is Billy Slater feeling the pressure ahead of Origin decider?
With Xavier Coates and Murray Taulagi missing the Origin decider because of injury, Cobbo was the natural choice to come back in. But his reported clash with Slater could be another sign the coach is feeling the heat ahead of Wednesday night’s blockbuster at Suncorp.
“There’s no two ways about it, he is doing things he has not normally done,” NSW great Benny Elias said on Sky Sports radio last week. “He works very hard and is very comprehensive and an exceptional coach. And I love every manner he does. But I see in these anecdotes he has changed his way of preparation.
“He has certainly changed his way for Game 3 than he has for all other games. There are mannerisms he has done, and actions he has presented that are totally different … Seeing it from afar, that is the first sign of weakness.”