Queensland coach Billy Slater said leaving the coaches box to speak with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on the sideline was instinctive but also something that crossed his mind in the lead up.
Reece Walsh’s concussion forced the Maroons mentor to reshuffle his backline with Selwyn Cobbo coming off the bench to play on the wing, and Tabuai-Fidow moved to fullback.
Moments after Walsh walked off the field, Slater left his coaches box and headed straight to the sideline to speak with Tabuai-Fidow on the switch.
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He said the decision to bolt down the stairs and have a face-to-face conversation was something that crossed his mind before.
“To be honest, I walked up to the box from the sideline yesterday at the captain’s run and thought if that’s needed, that’s what I’m gonna do,” he told reporters after the match.
“We had a talk about that today as a staff and when Hammer got thrown back to fullback.
“I just thought that I could help him with a few things having a face-to-face conversation.
“We can’t plan for everything, but that’s one thing that I felt was beneficial to the team and to Hammer. I just felt it at the time and I did it.”
Taking on a Blues team with 12 men was always going to be an advantage for the Maroons, but Slater said he was proud of how his stand-in fullback performed, crossing the stripe for a hat-trick.
It was his effort in defence, however, that really impressed Slater, most notably his incredible try-saving tackle on Blues forward Spencer Leniu.
“He did a great job under the high ball (and) positionally,” Slater continued.
“Not just scoring three tries, but he saved just as many.
“He did a wonderful job to adjust to a different position. I thought he was super.”
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Slater’s decision to have Selwyn Cobbo on the bench copped some criticism but it proved to be a master stroke in the end, with the coach planning thoroughly for the chance of losing an outside back.
“I’m always proud of this footy team. The way they prepare, the way they carry themselves, they’re a credit to themselves as leaders of our state,” he said.
“I can imagine what 5.5 million people above the border are feeling about their footy team and pride would certainly be up there.
“We prepared for the unexpected and the unexpected happened.”
As for the hit on Walsh, Slater refused to be drawn on the tackle that wiped his fullback from the match.
“I’ll keep my feelings about that (tackle) to myself,” Slater said before being questioned over whether NSW were targeting the Broncos star.
“I have no idea but ill keep my feelings about that to myself,” he replied.
When he was pressed further about whether he felt Suaalii deserved to be sent off, Slater fired back at the journalist, saying: “Did you?”