Queensland coach Billy Slater has been labelled an “angry dad” by veteran Ben Hunt amid suggestions he’s been “rattled” by Michael Maguire ahead of the Origin series decider.
Maguire’s infamous “glass houses” sledge ignited a war of words between the pair before the Blues bounced back from a Game I loss with a mammoth 38-18 win at the MCG.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Hunt revealed the Maroons had re-watched their Melbourne performance, with Slater showing his frustrating with his troops.
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“We had a look at the Melbourne game and it was definitely a tough watch, that is for sure,” Hunt said.
“Billy definitely had honest conversations with a fair few of us. I don’t think there were many guys in that game that could say they played a good game of footy. It was a tough video session but one we needed.
“There were definitely some embarrassing moments for sure. In the first half there were some real poor defensive errors. They played a great game but we weren’t at our best.
“He was like the angry dad a bit. He was a bit disappointed in us…. I don’t like to lose and to lose like that in an Origin jersey definitely burns.”
Following Hunt’s reveal, The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie explained that he believes Slater hasn’t been able to handle the public barbs being thrown by Maguire.
He even went as far as labelling Slater a coach who looks to be “under excruciating pressure”.
“Do you think Billy is rattled? Because he has had a couple of series with Freddy (Brad Fittler) where he hasn’t engaged,” Ritchie said on NRL360 on Wednesday night.
“Madge (Maguire) has engaged and at the moment he looks like a bloke who is used to a smooth, easy run into games.
“And they’ve been winning. But they’ve been beaten now and a few bars have gone south to north. To me he looks like a bloke under excruciating pressure.”
Queensland legend Gorden Tallis went on to reveal that he’d spoken to Slater, and he got the impression the Maroons coach wasn’t feeling the pinch.
However, Tallis went on to admit even he, someone who isn’t associated with the squad, is “feeling the pressure” as a Queenslander.
“No (he’s not rattled), I’ve spoken to him. No, definitely not…. but there’s pressure on him,” Tallis said.
“I’m feeling the pressure and I’m not even in the squad, I’m not even playing the game and I feel the pressure, I feel the angst.
“I know that we’re under the pump next Wednesday… but Billy for the care of his state, because he has played in these deciders, he wouldn’t do the job if he didn’t feel the pressure.
“But I’ll tell you this, Madge would be feeling the pressure too.”
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For Fox League’s James Hooper, he believes Slater is in “uncharted territory” ahead of a series decider with the Maroons on the back foot and copping sledges, unlike the quiet series he’s previously coached in.
“I don’t think he is heavy duty rattled, but I do think he is in uncharted territory, this is an unfamiliar position for Billy,” Hooper said.
“As a player he had so much success, in his early coaching life at Origin level it has been very smooth sailing.
“He and Freddy never engaged in any sort of personal attacks or sledges.
“Whereas now all of a sudden they get handed a heavy loss in Game II and Madge even goes before that with the glass houses sledge.”
Asked whether he thinks Maguire is “in Billy’s head”, Ritchie replied by saying: “I do, Madge has taken this unusual approach which we didn’t see at clubland.
“I say this quite respectfully, but he was quite a boring interview. Madge has come out now and he’s throwing bards. It’s great for the Origin theatre, but I don’t think Billy was expecting it.”