Queensland coach Billy Slater reacts to Maroons star Xavier Coates being ruled out of State of Origin decider
- Slater says Coates was very emotional after an injury
- Coates injured his hamstring on Saturday evening
- Maroons star knocked out of State of Origin deciding match
Queensland coach Billy Slater has spoken candidly about the loss of Xavier Coates at Origin. He said the Maroons star player was very emotional after injuring his hamstring.
Coates limped off AAMI Park during Melbourne’s 16-6 win over Canberra on Saturday night. He attempted to dive for the ball and had to be helped to the dressing rooms by trainers.
The injury, his second hamstring problem of the season, has ruled him out of the third Origin match in Brisbane on July 17.
Slater said he felt genuine sympathy for the 23-year-old, who is now facing an extended spell on the sidelines.
āIn terms of changes, there will be at least one enforced change, but the boys have another round of football to play this weekend,ā Slater said. The Billy Slater Podcast.
‘You could see he was visually dejected walking down the tunnel. I sat at home and watched it and felt for him because I know how hard he’s worked.
‘He’s had an incredible pre-season and has worked hard all season. I was even at a training session during pre-season where he stretched his hamstring… he was very emotional when he did that.
Billy Slater (pictured) has spoken about the loss of Xavier Coates from his Origin side
Coates limped off AAMI Park after attempting to dive for the ball
‘He’s worked so hard and he’s such a great person and he’s going to miss a fair bit of the season now and obviously he’ll miss the decider.
āI’m looking forward to watching the round of football and then sitting down with Darren Lockyer and Gene Miles on Sunday night to put together the best team in Queensland.ā
Slater believes his team can do better than in Melbourne, but admits the Blues were the better team that night.
“I wish I had selective amnesia, but unfortunately it’s firmly in my memory… it was a disappointing evening for all of us in Queensland,” he said.
Coates is a big loss for Queensland, who will face NSW in the deciding match on July 17
‘We were beaten by a better team. NSW were just short of perfect, we had 30 percent of the ball and they had 70 and that is something we really need to look at.
Game three kicks off on July 17 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, with bookmakers making Queensland a narrow favourite over the Blues despite the Melbourne result.