Walters counting on Billy’s brilliance
MAROONS coach Kevin Walters says Queensland will need every shred of Billy Slater’s greatness after the champion Storm fullback yesterday clinched an emotional recall for Origin II.
Just six months ago, Slater was in such a dark place he feared he would never play again as he attempted to fight his way back from a second major shoulder operation.
But Slater’s worst nightmare morphed into a fairytale yesterday when he was named in the Queensland side fighting to save the series in Origin II at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium tomorrow week.
Many believed Slater’s glittering Origin career was over when he was snubbed for Game One.
But Queensland’s 28-4 drubbing prompted Walters to issue an SOS for Slater, who sealed his selection with a matchwinning try-assist in Melbourne’s defeat of Cronulla last Thursday.
Slater will play his 28th Origin next week and Walters – who choked back tears explaining the fullback’s omission for Game One – says the Maroons are banking on his game-breaking magic.
“We are very excited about the inclusion of Billy,” Walters said. “We know what he brings to Queensland and we will need all of that (tomorrow) week ... the greatness that Billy brings.
“I don’t think Billy was as happy as I was to be honest.
“It was a tough decision to omit him for Game One, but since his omission, Billy’s club form has gone to another level. It is going to be great to have him back.”
The Maroons named their squad in alphabetical order yesterday but Slater will wear his beloved No.1 jumper, pushing incumbent fullback Darius Boyd to left centre.
Statistics show Slater is replicating the form that made him Queensland’s preeminent custodian three years ago.
After 13 rounds this season, Slater had more tackle busts (40 to 38), more try assists (11 to 6), more line-break assists (11 to 9), more offloads (18 to 6) and fewer errors (12 to 18) than his 2014 campaign.
The Maroons lacked energy in the series opener and Queensland chairman of selectors Gene Miles says Slater will bring some spark and zip to the side.
“It’s just his enthusiasm,” Miles said. “Billy talks a lot at the back and the way he brings the ball back, he has some great carries in him.”