By Wayne Heming Billy Slater will continue to guide Queensland’s State of Origin fortunes until 2026 after agreeing to a three-year coaching extension with the Queensland Rugby League today. A proud Queenslander, who represented his state 31 times, Slater understands what wearing the Maroon jumper means to all Queenslanders and what it should mean to anyone
QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters is determined to build another Johnathan Thurston-Cooper Cronk strikeforce, saying he is keen to retain Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans as his Maroons halves for the 2019 series. Thurston and Cronk orchestrated the most successful dynasty in Origin history for Queensland, but their representative retirements last year has forced Walters to
QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters says the reemergence of Daly Cherry-Evans as a representative weapon will give the Maroons the cornerstone of experience to build a young team around over the next couple of years. Queensland’s transition out of the recent golden era with the departures of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston
MAL Meninga has lauded Kevin Walters for producing one of the great coaching performances of the modern era after his Maroons successor steered Queensland to a magical against-the-odds State of Origin series win. The Maroons wrapped up their 11th series win in 12 years with a stunning 22-6 win over the Blues in Game 3
QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters says the way he analyses games has not changed since he became the Maroons’ boss. He’s still watching out for “the family”. With anticipation building towards this year’s State of Origin series, which begins in June, Walters has been doing his homework – watching the form of all Queensland contenders who
A NEW year has brought new challenges for the Queensland team. For the first time since 2006, we go into a State of Origin series without a crown to defend. The hunted have once again become the hunters. While last year’s series was lost, I am comfortable with the effort and commitment
QUEENSLAND coach Mal Meninga has revealed why he is backing the new rugby league Nines concept – believing it is an idea that could help take the game to worldwide audience. The Nines has been a somewhat controversial addition to the NRL calendar, with the inaugural event scheduled for Auckland in February.
YOU can learn a lot from what has happened in the past – both the successes and the mistakes. Having knowledge about the past helps you understand what you are about, and why we do the things that we do. Origin is such a special and unique time. You need to understand
THE drug investigation swirling around Australian sport and the situation with Ben Barba attracted most of the attention in the lead-up to this season’s launch, but both issues have highlighted the duty of care rugby league owes to its players. Both situations were poles apart, but equally concerning. We all know the
Queensland coach Mal Meninga says he will consult with the Maroons’ senior players about how best to prepare the team for a record-shattering eighth consecutive State of Origin crown. While most NRL clubs are now back into the swing of things with pre-season training, Meninga too is beginning the preparation work to
