MAROONS skipper Daly Cherry-Evans believes Billy Slater can enjoy a long reign as Queensland coach, hailing the rookie mentor as the X-factor that helped pull off another epic Origin series boilover of the Blues.
The Blues went into the 2022 series decider at Suncorp as raging favourites, but the Maroons snatched their second Origin crown in three years with a breathtaking 22-12 win that many proclaimed as the greatest Origin match ever played.

Forty-two years after the first FOG, the legendary Arthur Beetson, ignited the Origin concept, FOG No.142 Slater was the architect of one of Queensland’s greatest triumphs, winning the series in his first year as Maroons coach.

It is no surprise Slater made such a successful transition from fullback to the coach’s box.

As a player, he was one of the titans of the Origin arena, amassing 31 games for Queensland and being a key plank in the golden decade that saw the Maroons win nine series in 10 years under Mal Meninga.
Slater was renowned for hard work, discipline, attention to detail and the art of preparation. They are the precise qualities he tapped into and instilled in the 2022 Maroons to underpin Queensland’s latest march to glory.
Slater is contracted as Queensland coach for another two campaigns but his captain, Cherry-Evans, believes ‘Billy the Kid’ can join Meninga and Wayne Bennett as one of the Maroons’ greatest mentors.
“Billy had a massive part in our success,” Cherry-Evans said.
“Even before the series started, I could see similarities between the way he played and how he would coach.
“He was so well prepared, and he is super competitive. You can tell he has that desire for us to play well for each other and the Queensland people.
“All his traits came through in our performances and as a group, we performed for Billy.
“There’s no doubt for me he is the right man for the job and I believe he can have long-term success as a coach in this arena.”
Camp Maroon insiders were blown away by Slater’s communication, attention to detail and simplicity of message.
The Queensland Rugby League identified Slater as a potential rising star in the Origin coaching arena, and he did not disappoint – throwing himself into the high-pressure post.
In the lead-up to the Origin series, Slater would spend hours studying NRL footage of established Maroons players and potential rookie selections.
He also assembled a coaching dream team, hiring Origin legends Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston and enlisting highly-rated NRL assistant Josh Hannay, who himself played two games for Queensland, to be his tactical right-hand man.
Before Game One, he organised a team walk down Caxton Street on the way to training at Suncorp Stadium, indoctrinating Maroons players on what it feels like for Queensland fans to make the trek to Lang Park to watch their heroes play.
Slater’s influence was instant. He pulled off a stunning 16-10 victory in the series opener in Sydney and while the Maroons were soundly beaten 44-12 in Origin II, Slater expertly pulled the strings to engineer a magical 22-12 boilover the raging favourites the Blues in the Suncorp decider.
Once again, Slater had the Midas Touch.
“I was really comfortable in being myself in camp and that we were true to ourselves as a full Queensland Maroons unit,” Slater said.
“I have never dipped my toe in in my life.
“This Queensland team is important to me. That’s the only reason I took the job. This team has been important to me ever since I was a four-year-old boy.
“I got the opportunity to be one of the players that wore the jersey and inspire other people and, as coach, I got the opportunity to help our group be those players to inspire our state.
“I sort of had a plan but given it was my first time doing this, I didn’t know what to expect. There is a whole heap of work that goes into it.
“There’s a bit of stress that goes with the job, but the players gave me a lot of belief.
“Part of my job is to instil belief in the players. But they have instilled a fair bit of belief in me.”