The contrasting fortunes of a State of Origin decider were on full display after Wednesday night’s game, with Queensland coach Billy Slater likening the win to the happiness of having kids while NSW great Andrew Johns swore, and was branded a ‘sook.’
Slater guided to Maroons to one of the great (and typical) underdog Origin wins by 10 points, despite Queensland’s best player, Cameron Munster, missing the game due to COVID.
It was an incredible win to a Maroons side vastly less experienced than their NSW counterparts – who were probably flattered by the 22-12 score line.
Slater had the broadcast panel, and likely Queensland fans all over the country, in stitches when he said just how much the series win meant to him on the post-match broadcast.
He described playing a game of golf with panellist, and former Queensland coach, Paul Vautin earlier in the year before he accepted the coaching role.
‘Fat (Vautin) said this will be the greatest thing I ever do. I looked at him and I never understood it,’ Slater said.
‘I understand it now. I don’t know if I feel any more prouder than when my children being born than I do right now!’
Slater, who played 323 games for Melbourne and 31 matches for Queensland, married long-time partner, artist Nicole Rose, in 2009, and the pair have two children.
It was clear family is a recurring theme in this Queensland camp, with children and partners joining in the trophy photo – and Vautin said Slater will never be able to forget the moment.
‘You have become family with that team for the rest of your life, they are family. Going forward the next few series it is only going to get better,’ Vautin told Slater, in heart-warming scenes.
Queensland coach Billy Slater with his family after the Maroons’ historic win
Family members of the Queensland side joined in on the trophy photo
Cameron Smith (left) and Andrew Johns (right) discuss the match post-game
Cameron Smith, who was on the panel but also a member of Slater’s coaching staff, said he felt the same way about the maroon family.
‘You understand the feeling (of winning) as a player, for your teammates and your coaches, but when you get in as a coach you feel like a bit of an outsider,’ he said.
‘The bond that you grow in those camps though … these guys have done such a great job and are such coachable young men. I never imagined I would have this feeling with the playing group.’
Johns’ response on the live post-game broadcast was in stark contrast to the humility Slater and Smith had shown.
The former NSW legend look disinterested, down one end of the panel as the rest of the commentators unpacked the match.
‘Yep, it means so much to me,’ Johns replied curtly when asked whether it was a hard watch for him.
NSW players looked devastated after the game three loss to Queensland
Passionate NSW great Andrew Johns did not look amused after the match
Anchor James Bracey then asked Johns if he could pinpoint why NSW lost the game.
Johns, with his heart on his sleeve, gave a strongly-worded reply, that included an expletive on live TV.
‘The big moments. Now we have to listen to all the bulls**t in the next 12 months. It drives you mad,’ he said, with a raucous Queensland home crowd heard clearly in the background.
One user laughed at Johns for ‘absolutely throwing his toys out of the cot’ on live TV, while another remarked ‘Joey is pissed, he does not want to be giving that interview at all.’
Others users didn’t find the moment as humourous, branding him ‘salty’, ‘unprofessional’ and a ‘sook’.
Maroons coach Billy Slater commiserates with NSW coach Brad Fittler after the match
Johns left the panel, then footage cut to the former NSW great looking very despondent in the stands, much to the delight of the panel.
It led to one person tweeting: ‘Honestly looks like Johns should chuck in doing commentary and go do something he enjoys.’
It comes after Johns appeared to be very socially lubricated at the Caxton Hotel while appearing on Channel 9’s 100% Footy on Monday night.
The Novocastrian clutched a Tooheys New alongside Queensland great Darren Lockyer at the iconic Queensland pub and the pair appeared to have enjoyed several ales, despite being on live TV.
Swearing and drinking on live TV from a professional presenter? Let’s hope it isn’t the new normal.
Darren Lockyer (left) and Andrew Johns (right) enjoy a beer during a Channel 9 segment
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