‘Billy is assured but humble’: Eddie’s praise for Maroons coach Slater
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Wallabies coach Eddie Jones might be a proud New South Welshman, but he could not help praising Queensland’s Billy Slater after making a cameo at Maroons training.
For a moment, onlookers at Sanctuary Cove thought Jones had joined Cameron Smith as the latest member of coach Slater’s all-star support staff.
Jones has been in camp with a Wallabies players at the same Gold Coast venue, and took the time to watch Slater put his players through an opposed session against Queensland Cup side Easts Tigers.
Jones, a noted league enthusiast, watched Origin I with interest – and said that while he hoped the Blues could level the series, Slater had instilled belief in his side in a short period of time.
“You have to spread the love a bit, mate,” Jones told this masthead when asked why a New South Welshman was on enemy turf.
“We were both in camp and had worked out an arrangement where we could share the training facilities. I enjoyed Origin I. Queensland find a way to win, don’t they.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones watches Queensland training with Berrick Barnes and David Rath.Credit: Getty Images
“It was their ability to hang in the game when things aren’t going your way. They were under the pump, they did the short dropout and won the ball back, which swung the momentum back to them.
“To do that, you need belief. And good Origin coaches build that belief in a short period of time. Gus Gould did it with NSW. Billy is obviously doing that with Queensland.”
Jones noted how focused Slater had his players on Thursday, even though they would have been tempted to take shortcuts against inferior opposition.
“I’m a great believer that you learn a lot about a coach by the way he talks in TV interviews, and when he speaks, Billy is assured but humble and doesn’t allow himself to get involved with discussions he doesn’t have to have,” Jones said.
“He’s been taught well by [Melbourne coach] Craig Bellamy, you can see that. He has great focus, and you can see the boys and the way they’re training, they’re focused and really committed to training well.”
Jones said the Blues had the team to win, “especially when you have the likes of Cameron Murray and Liam Martin coming off the bench”.
“Nathan [Cleary] isn’t there, and Mitchell [Moses] plays differently, he’s a bigger halfback with pace and a long kicking game; it will be how he handles that trench warfare,” Jones said.
South Sydney skipper Murray has been mentioned several times by Jones as a Wallabies target, while Roosters centre Joseph Suaalii switches codes at the end of next year.
As for talk Suaalii could be playing rugby by the end of this year, Jones said: “There’s been no talk at all. We’re committed to him coming at the end of 2024, and there’s been no change to that.”
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