An emotional Billy Slater has explained why he decided to throw himself into the pot under pressure from being home coach.
Slater played 31 games for Queensland, but will make his coaching debut with the Maroons on Wednesday.
In an interview with Fox League’s Yvonne Sampson, Slater admitted that he is “unsure” why he entered the coach’s crazy world, but believes it has something to do with his competitive nature.
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Sampson raised Slater’s “really comfortable life” and asked why he would “complicate” it with such a high job.
“I know … what an idiot,” Slater joked before revealing why he took it on.
“I’ve always been someone who wants challenges and wants to compete. I played it before, it’s important to me, it’s important to me, and I feel like I can contribute, ”he added.
“We have a big group of people around us … but I don’t know why. But why not?
“That’s another question I ask myself. Why not?
“You only live once and you only have so much time on this earth and it’s up to you. It doesn’t depend on anyone what you do with your time, so that’s what I’m doing with it.”
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Slater said his family, especially his wife, Nicole, have given him “a lot of support” and while not everyone can expect Origin I to get here, he has focused on his daily chores at camp with the Maroons team.
“Nicole was very supportive. From the beginning it was like ‘go get it’ … I’m getting a little excited,” she said.
“I’m in here and I have a job to do, I have a job to do and I’m focusing on that.
“But everyone outside is waiting and looking forward to Wednesday. It will be a great occasion on June 8 at ten and eight, everything is happening.
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“Right now, I have work to do and that keeps me comfortable.
“I’m not looking at the result, I’m not looking at the performance right now, I’m looking at how we want to play and help our players build that connection to be the best as a team.”
But the importance of being Queensland’s head coach is not lost on Slater.
“When you play in Queensland you have to remember what it meant to you when you were a kid,” he said.
“What it means for school teachers, all school children, women and men in senior care facilities, construction work, everyone is talking about this team in that moment and that is great. “
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