{"id":72422,"date":"2026-08-15T05:25:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T05:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/72422\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T05:25:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T05:25:12","slug":"melbourne-storm-distance-themselves-from-shock-billy-slater-origin-call","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/72422\/","title":{"rendered":"Melbourne Storm distance themselves from shock Billy Slater Origin call"},"content":{"rendered":"

Melbourne insist they are not behind Billy Slater\u2019s shock Queensland resignation<\/a>, but say they are keen to speak with the Storm great about coaching the club beyond Craig Bellamy.<\/p>\n

Slater\u2019s decision to stand down as Maroons State of Origin mentor stunned the NRL on Friday, especially Queensland players who found out via online reports.<\/p>\n

Queensland officials are set to begin a search for Slater\u2019s replacement with Cameron Smith, Matt Ballin, Ben Te\u2019o and Anthony Seibold possible options.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

But the Storm have shut down the immediate theory Slater had quit the role to join them full-time before eventually replacing Bellamy in 2028.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this point it\u2019s too early to look beyond next year for us,\u201d Melbourne CEO Justin Rodski told AAP.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been working through what the future looks like with Craig first and foremost.<\/p>\n

\"BillyBilly Slater’s Queensland resignation has sent shockwaves through the NRL. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what happens beyond next year is something we will work through in the coming six months.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s too early to be speculating on what 2028 looks like, who will be part of our coaching team and who will be our senior coach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slater has an ongoing role as a part-time specialist coach at the Storm, which Rodski confirmed would continue into next season.<\/p>\n

Speaking at a charity lunch on Friday before his resignation was announced, Slater indicated he had no interest in a full-time NRL head-coaching role.<\/p>\n

Melbourne have Ryan Hinchcliffe, Marc Brentnall and Aaron Bellamy on their full-time staff, but Rodksi suggested Slater would also loom as an option to replace Bellamy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course Billy is someone the club would be keen to have a discussion with,\u201d Rodski said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is a club legend, an NRL great and has obviously been a successful coach in his own right.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut whether or not he wants to explore that avenue or not is something we still need to sit down and have that discussion with Billy at the right time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to Billy remaining involved next year in a specialist coaching role. He adds an enormous amount to the program and our players.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we haven\u2019t had any discussions beyond that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slater had coached the Maroons to three series wins since taking over in 2022, and had insisted before this year\u2019s decider it would not be his last game in charge of the Maroons.<\/p>\n

Queensland great and Slater\u2019s close friend Cameron Smith said on Friday night he would consult his family before weighing up whether to make a play for the Maroons job.<\/p>\n

Matt Ballin is highly regarded and shapes as a chief candidate, having served as an assistant since 2023.<\/p>\n

Ben Te\u2019o and Johnathan Thurston are also on the staff, while Anthony Seibold has previously been a Queensland assistant and could also be an option.<\/p>\n

Former Queensland assistant Josh Hannay is also well credentialed and popular among the Maroons squad, but Gold Coast would be unlikely to allow him to juggle that and the Titans job.<\/p>\n

Maroons star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow indicated on Friday night he felt any of the current assistants could step up.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are all pretty special,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust the way they handle it and the way they coach, so pretty excited to see who gets the job next.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously it\u2019s pretty sad for us boys, but we\u2019re behind Billy and whatever decision he has made.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

All change in Origin as Billy Slater steps down as Qld coach<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

‘Not there yet’: Souths down Dogs to close in on finals<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

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