Queensland coach Billy Slater reveals how his own family tragedy prepared him to help Origin star through the loss of his father
Slater knew there was nothing he could say to make everything better when he sat with Munster in his room at Queensland camp on Sunday, the day the new Maroons captain learned of his father Steven's sudden death.
Munster vowed then and there to Slater that, after spending some time with his family, he would lead Queensland in Wednesday's Origin decider - one of the biggest games of his career.
'He didn't have a lot of answers for a lot of other things, but he gave that one to me pretty straight,' Slater said.
'It's a huge game and he wants to be a part of that.'
To give him as much time as possible with his family, the Maroons booked Munster on a separate flight that would get him to Sydney in time for Tuesday afternoon's captain's run at Accor Stadium.
'I can't wait to give him a hug,' Slater said ahead of Munster's reunion with the team.
'Naturally, he's been pretty upset over the last couple of days, but I think the last couple of days he's been where he's needed to be, and that's with his mum and his sister.'
Slater understood the best thing he could do for Munster sitting in his room on Sunday was to be there as a mate, and give him all the time he needed with family.
The coach knew that because he lost his own father Ronnie earlier this year.
'There's no real words that fix any of this,' Slater said.
'Unfortunately there's not a switch (to flick).
'I haven't dealt with this as a coach, but I've dealt with it as a person. I lost my father in January. I know what it's like and Cam's an inspiration for many people.
'He's a hero to many people in Queensland. I can only imagine his dad would've been his first inspiration and his first hero. He'd be hurting right now.'
That's why Slater knows Wednesday night is the time for the Maroons to show up for Munster, just as he showed up for his teammates guiding them to victory against the odds in Origin II.
'Their skipper is going to need them on Wednesday night,' Slater said.
'I'm sure it'll give them a huge boost, to see their mate going through something that you only go through once in your life, losing your father. I'm sure it's going to have a huge impact on them.'
Slater has already seen his senior players leading the group with aplomb in Munster's absence.
It's been a blessing for the group to have Josh Papalii, the Canberra prop called out of representative retirement to reinvigorate the forward pack.
'It's a feel, with 'Papa',' Slater said of the veteran's impact on the squad.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Farrell England return would be amazing
England captain Maro Itoje says it would be "amazing" if Owen Farrell was planning a return to the international stage with his 33, won 112 caps for his country before taking a break from England duty after the 2023 Rugby World who captained England from 2018-2023, is now eligible again after leaving French club Racing 92 to return to Saracens for next season."I want to see him happy," said British and Irish Lions captain Itoje, who is a team-mate of Farrell's with the touring team in Australia and also once again with Saracens. "If he wants to play for England, why not? That would be amazing if that is in his plans and in his dreams."Owen is one of the best England players that we've ever seen. A fit Owen Farrell makes any team better. If that's in his ambitions, why not?"I've had the honour and privilege of playing alongside Owen for all but one of the years I've played professional rugby. He's a real team man. He always wants the team to do well. He's quite selfless in that respect."Called up to replace Elliot Daly last week, Farrell took part in his first full training session with the Lions on Tuesday. Itjoe - who took over from Jamie George as England captain before this year's Six Nations, said he was excited about what the now four-time tourist can bring to the Lions table in Australia. It is highly likely that Farrell, who can provide cover at fly-half and inside centre, will play against the AUNZ Invitational side in Adelaide on Saturday. It will be 10 weeks since he last played a game, having suffered a concussion with his former club Racing."It's pretty exciting to see what he could potentially bring to us," said Itoje. "Owen and I actually went to the same school. When I was in Year 7, he was in Year 10 - so I've known Owen since I was literally 11."But he didn't start talking to me until maybe I was 12 or so. The Year 10s didn't really speak to the Year 7s. When I got to Year 8, he started to talk. "I have a very good relationship with him. And he just wants the squad to do well. He's obviously back at Saracens now, which is great."Itoje, who returns to the side for Wednesday's game against the Brumbies, was also asked if he is bemused at the way people react to Farrell. "It's quite remarkable, really," he said. "He does provoke pretty strong reactions, either way. It's pretty crazy."I'm sure he's thinking, like, 'what did I do?' But no, he's fine, and I think everything will be cool."
Times
2 hours ago
- Times
Owen Farrell dazzling the Lions — and Itoje wants him in England squad
When most of the British & Irish Lions squad had left the stadium in Canberra and were heading back to the hotel, Owen Farrell was still out on the field, extending his first proper training session since joining the tour with some timed 50-metre sprints. The former England captain really has hit the ground running in Australia. Farrell had just trained at inside centre in the training team against the Lions side that will play against the ACT Brumbies here on Wednesday. It is the strongest Lions line-up of the tour, close to the Test starting XV that will be sent out to face Australia in Brisbane a week on Saturday. Farrell, new to the squad and not over jet lag enough to be considered for this game, carved open the first team more than once. Farrell is expected to warm up with the team before kick-off on Wednesday and then make his tour bow in Adelaide on Saturday, against an Australia & New Zealand Invitational XV. A week later is the first Test and the Lions have made it clear that Farrell will be in contention for the match-day 23. Finn Russell will start the first Test, no question. He and Jamison Gibson-Park will extend their burgeoning half-back relationship against the Brumbies on Wednesday. But the balance of the bench for this game, featuring Marcus Smith and Mack Hansen, is unlikely to be repeated for the Test series. There is no recognised inside centre cover for Bundee Aki in the squad. To have all back line bases covered, Sione Tuipulotu would have to come in for Hansen; or Farrell replace Smith; or the Lions could go for a 6-2 bench and trust in Ben Earl. So Farrell is in the mix. And regardless of selection, the Lions are convinced that his influence will improve the team; the first evidence of which they saw at the GIO Stadium on Tuesday. 'He must have had the playbook on the plane over because he has come in and he's not missed a beat,' Johnny Sexton, a former Lions team-mate of Farrell's and now assistant coach, said. 'He's already up to speed, with how he has trained. He came off the plane and knew the plays and everything that was going on. 'You can see the touches he had and you could see how he was helping the No10s. I know from playing ten that if he's at 12, it's a dream. It helps you and makes your job easier. He's another organiser and another playmaker who can control the game. He's a leader. 'Experience is experience. He's a world-class player. Look at what he's won. He's not just a guy who has hung on to the coattails of other people, he's the one who has been driving those teams. He's been fantastic to have in camp and I'm sure he's going to add loads for the rest of the tour.' Farrell had a disjointed season with Racing 92, impacted by a groin injury that required surgery, and then a concussion. He is not the only one in this squad to be short of rugby recently. Tadhg Furlong, Hugo Keenan, Huw Jones and Tuipulotu all came on tour after injury-disrupted campaigns. One of the concerns raised by those in the anti-Farrell camp — and no other player in the game triggers such a divisive reaction — is that his arrival could destabilise the squad, putting captain Maro Itoje's nose out of joint and unsettling the fly-half trio of Russell, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith. 'I remember in 2013 when Jonny Wilkinson wasn't picked and I was disappointed. It wasn't that I was delighted because it meant I would have a better chance of playing. I wanted him to come. I wanted to see him,' Sexton said. 'I can see the relationship he [Farrell] has with Finn Russell. It must be from four years ago because they seem to get on really well.' Itoje has known Farrell since they were both at St George's School, in Harpenden. 'I've known Owen since I was 11,' the Lions captain said. 'But he didn't start talking to me until maybe I was 12 or so. The year 10s didn't really speak to the year 7s. 'He just wants the squad to do well. Sport is, for me, never about ego. I want people to speak, have their voices heard, and contribute in a positive way. It's never about me, if I'm captain, having the final say or sticking my chest out or anything like that. It's not about that. 'It's about, 'How can we as a collective get the best result? How can we as a collective win? How can the team be successful?' 'For the team to be successful, you can't do it by yourself. When the team is successful, everyone wins. Everyone has a brighter light shone on them. And everyone can dine on that glory for years to come. So that's all I care about. And I know Owen's the exact same. He is a team man. Selfless.' Itoje is delighted that Farrell is returning to Saracens and would love to see him back in an England jersey again. Farrell walked away from Test rugby after the World Cup, citing mental health challenges after finding himself in a maelstrom of negativity. 'I want to see him be happy. If he wants to play for England, why not? That would be amazing if that is in his plans and in his dreams. Owen is one of the best England players that we've ever seen,' Itoje said. 'A fit Owen Farrell makes any team better'. The Lions may have named a Test-standard team, but it still features new and relatively new combinations. Itoje will pack down with Joe McCarthy for the first time, while Ollie Chessum and Tom Curry will make a first start together in the back row. With Jack Conan at No8, that is a new loose-forward unit. Blair Kinghorn will start at full back with Tommy Freeman on one wing and James Lowe on the other. The Lions need to make a statement in this game against the Brumbies, as they did on their visit to the Australian capital in 1989. On that occasion, the fixture fell between the first and second Tests. The Lions had lost badly in the first international. The midweek team, led by Donal Lenihan and inspired by Jeremy Guscott, rallied from 18-4 down to beat ACT 41-25. It was a performance and a result that changed the course of the tour, triggering a big shift in confidence and momentum. The Lions went on to win a Test series from 1-0 down for the first and only time. The Lions on this tour are waiting for a signature performance. The aim, clearly, is to unleash it in the Test series. But this game represents an ideal launchpad, an opportunity to demonstrate what they are about as a team. The Lions have sought to play with a fluidity in attack, and with a commitment to move the ball, but they have lacked direction at times. The coaches were frustrated that they did not find that punch against the Waratahs when the circumstances demanded it. 'That's definitely the ambition,' Itoje said. 'Rugby doesn't change too much, whether it's under-14s rugby or the Lions. You have to go forward. And that is definitely the case for us. We need to punch holes, go forward, then space opens up, wherever that may be. 'We want to start big and we want to maintain that throughout the whole game. We want our big ball-carriers to get over the gainline, to aggressively attack holes, people like Bundee, Ellis Genge, big Joe McCarthy. 'All these games on tour are about building towards something. And this is another important step forward for us. This is a big game.' Wednesday, 11amGIO Stadium, CanberraTV: Sky Sports Main Event
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Channel Seven makes a VERY embarrassing mistake as it runs tribute to their own star's father after his death
Channel Seven made a major error in its tributes to Caroline Wilson's father, Ian, who tragically passed away last week, aged 91. The revered former Richmond Tigers president took charge of the club between 1973 and 1985. During that time, the Victorian outfit won a flag during Wilson's first year at the helm in 1974, before winning another premiership in 1980. Many from around the footy world have paid tribute to the Channel Seven broadcaster's father. The network also paid tribute to the former Tigers president on its show The Agenda Setters on Monday, but Seven appeared to air the wrong image. They appeared to show a picture of former Tigers player Bill Barrot with the words 'Vale Ian Wilson' on the screen, instead of showing an image of Ian Wilson. The Herald Sun suggests that the image was linked to an article published by The Age which appeared to show Wilson, alongside her sister Amelia, brother Will and Barrot holding the premiership cup from the 1969 season. The image was later removed and corrected with an image of Ian Wilson on replays of the show on the Channel 7 app. The trailblazing Tigers president had also been a keen golfer and had also been a member of the Sorrento Golf Club since 1963. The club paid their respects to Wilson on Friday, flying their flag at half-mast. Tigers great Matthew Richardson has also paid tribute to the former president, writing: 'In my time at the club, it was always great to bump into 'Octa' and talk about those legendary times. He was just a great Richmond person.' Wilson was awarded life membership of the footy club in 1975 and had been inducted into the club's hall of fame in 2010. The Tigers also sent their condolences to the Wilson family, with the team wearing black armbands during their defeat by Geelong at the GMHBA Stadium on Saturday. Current president, John O'Rourke, said: 'Ian significantly helped to rebuild and re-energise the Club after so many years that we spent struggling at the bottom of the League ladder. 'He was utterly determined to reward the Richmond supporters who had stayed loyal to the Club despite being starved of success. 'With his business acumen, the Tigers became great innovators off-field, and he just had so much energy for the job. He was driven to see Richmond as a force to be reckoned with, and he worked incredibly hard to make that happen. 'It was a privilege to have Ian join us last season for our 50-year anniversary celebration of the 1974 premiership. He was so clearly revered by the playing group of that era. 'He left a mighty legacy at the Club with what he was able to achieve.'
