- Former Storm champion dominated Origin as a player
- Currently dominating Origin again as Queensland coach
- He has made a big bet on his future based on his family.
Queensland champion Billy Slater has revealed the family reasons that will see him reject Parramatta’s offer to make him an NRL coach.
Slater played an incredible 31 games for Queensland during the Maroons’ eight-year reign between 2006 and 2013 and is unbeaten as Queensland coach since replacing Paul Green in 2022.
The Eels are at a coaching crossroads after sacking Brad Arthur after 11 years without a premiership, but also losing top target Wayne Bennett, who signed with city rivals South Sydney .
That has put both Origin coaches in competition, with Parramatta reportedly considering both Slater and New South Wales mentor Michael Maguire.
Billy Slater has dominated the State of Origin field as a player and coach, but making the leap to managing an NRL team is another matter entirely.
Slater is dedicated to his wife Nicole and children Tyla Rose and Jake (pictured), who live together on a farm outside Melbourne.
Slater (pictured second from left with teammates Cameron Smith, centre, and Cooper Cronk, right) played 31 games for Queensland during the Maroons’ eight-year dominance.
After retiring in 2018, Slater moved to a farm with Nicole and their two children, daughter Tyla Rose, 13, and son Jake, 11, where they love family life beyond their background and their commitments to the media.
Now Slater has revealed he won’t be disrupting that precious family time by taking up a role with the Parramatta Eels or any other NRL club.
“I’m totally down to work in Queensland and if I’m not coaching Queensland, I’m not coaching anyone else,” Slater said. news corporation.
“I’ve been very direct with that.
‘For it (being linked to the Eels post) to be a statement from the last 24 hours… this is the first time I’ve been asked about this topic.
“I’m the Queensland coach and if I’m not the Queensland coach I don’t coach anyone.”
Slater initially signed a two-year contract to begin a new era for Queensland.
After a very successful debut as Origin coach, the 40-year-old agreed a new three-year extension in September.
Now confirmed as Queensland coach until 2026, Slater remains a Storm legend and remains connected to Melbourne.
Slater has been a great coach since he was named the Maroons’ mentor in 2022.
However, the Melbourne champion has no desire to get into the grind of NRL training due to his love of family life.
Many believe that Slater would excel as a club manager due to his strong work ethic, impressive track record and great attention to detail.
However, the Queensland Origin legend clearly stated that he currently has no interest in becoming one of the NRL’s 17 head coaches.
But it’s all down to his family, not any doubts about the pressure of being an NRL mentor.
“It’s not so much the pressure of the job in the NRL,” Slater said.
‘I’m not worried about that.
‘But being an NRL coach is a big commitment, it’s an 11-month-a-year, seven-day-a-week job.
‘I have been in and around the NRL environment for over two decades. I understand what those NRL coaches put into it and it’s all in there.
‘In the situation I am in with my life and my family, I don’t see myself becoming an NRL coach in the near future.
“Maybe that will change in the future, you never say never, but I’m here to do my part for Queensland.”
“I’m happy in this role and if I’m not the head coach of Queensland, well, I’m not a coach.”
