Billy snub won’t weigh on Brown

NATHAN Brown doesn’t expect Billy Slater’s shock Origin snubbing to make him any bigger threat than normal on Friday night when Newcastle take on the Storm in Melbourne.

Slater’s omission from the Maroons has been a major talking leading in to the opening State of Origin clash tonight.

But Brown sat on the fence yesterday when asked if was he surprised by the Slater (right) decision.

“It’s a tough call,” Brown said. “We all acknowledge Billy has been a champion for a long time but we also acknowledge Darius Boyd is a champion player as well.

“These are situations that are never easy and I think the way Billy has handled it shows why he is such a champion and why people like him so much. He has handled it first class.

“Hopefully, we all get to see Billy play another game for Queensland because we all love watching him play.”

Brown doesn’t take any comfort from the fact the Knights have drawn the Storm two days after the opening game of the series.

“They have some very key players that take part for Queensland but they have been doing it a long time, so I don’t think it will affect their preparation at all,” he said.