Billy Slater responds to shock claims of clash with Queensland player on eve of Origin 3
The Queensland Maroons coach has addressed the bombshell reports.
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.”