‘Getting hit a fair bit without the footy’: Billy Slater’s pointed remark over Reece Walsh performance
Maroons coach Billy Slater and Daly Cherry-Evans have declared they were impacted by the refereeing game three after NSW won a decider at Suncorp Stadium for the first time since 2005.
Speaking post-match in his press conference, Slater stated he “didn’t feel like we were getting the rub of the green” with the Maroons conceding nine penalties compared to NSW’s six. Queensland also copped five ruck infringements to two.
One of the flash points was the sin binning of Jeremiah Nanai and Cameron Murray in the first half after Cherry-Evans was involved in a melee with Jarome Luai.
The halfback and five-eighth came together in a physical manner with Queensland penalised for the incident.
Cherry-Evans admitted he was surprised by the penalty.
“I thought we were going to get the penalty but Bill used the phrase rub of the green, we just didn’t get the rub of the green tonight, we live with that and that’s footy,” he said.
On field, the Maroons skipper was also irate with Murray not being sent off after he ran from the bench to be involved.
Cherry-Evans didn’t back down from his stance, calling it “unacceptable”.
Slater gave a rather pointed response to the whole incident.
“I’m sure the referee will review his own game. I’m sure his boss will review his game,” he said.
“I just think that’s their job to review their own game and their own performance.
“To be honest I don’t know the rules in that situation, that’s what they’ve come up with,” he added when pressed for his take on the situation.
Slater’s apparent frustration with the officiating continued when discussing Reece Walsh.
The Maroons fullback didn’t look to be at full fitness throughout the match, but wasn’t replaced when Kalyn Ponga came on the field.
Slater said having the two on the field together was the “best option” for Queensland as he explained Walsh’s condition.
“I think he certainly was getting hit a fair bit without the footy. I think given the situation we were in on the scoreboard, having them both out there was our best option,” he said.
Pressed on his thoughts around Walsh being hit off the ball, Slater diverted back to a previous comment around the referee.
“They’ll review their own game, I’m sure they’ll look at that,” he said.
Slater was then asked if there should be better protection for his star fullback but referred to his own playing career in response.
“I don’t know, it’s a game of rugby league, it’s at State of Origin level,” he said. “I’ve been out there, I know what it’s like, I know what he’s going through, it’s just the way it is.”