Aaron Woods has hit back at Billy Slater over his comments at a pre-game State of Origin press conference, which referenced the passing of former Maroons coach Paul Green.
Speaking on his Triple M breakfast radio show on Wednesday morning, Woods said Slater’s reference to Green, who tragically took his own life in 2022, was “completely unnecessary”.
“It’s a hard position he’s in at the moment,” Woods said of Slater.
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“He’s lost game one of the series up in Queensland.
“He’s coming off a losing series which was a decider in Queensland as well.
“So he’s under a lot of pressure.
“But one in particular comment that he did make. I just thought Billy went a little bit over the boundary. I just think it was completely unnecessary for the situation.”
Woods didn’t specify that he was talking about Slater’s reference to Green, but there was no mistaking what Woods was referring to.
When talking to reporters on Tuesday, Slater said that while he was able to deal with Woods’ barbs, others may not.
“You don’t know what people are going through,” Slater said.
“And although I might be able to handle it, the next person mightn’t be. Maybe our last coach didn’t.”
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The “last coach” Slater was referring to was Green.
In comments that sparked the war of words between the pair, Woods called Slater a “grub”.
“I want to see the real Billy Slater come out – the grub that we know of. This is a bloke who kicked John Skandalis in the head and got a six-week suspension. Everyone wants to go ‘oh he’s such a nice bloke,” Woods said on his radio show last week.
On Wednesday, Woods made no apologies for what he said about Slater.
“I had those comments I made last Tuesday, so that was a week ago,” Woods said.
“I stand by them. It’s part of something I said in the lead-up to this game.
“When you say comments like that, you say something about a person, that person is owed a right to reply.
“And that person is Billy Slater.
“He’s had seven days to reply.
“He’s taken his time. He’s been very well thought out. He’s been very measured in what he’s had to say.
“A lot of (Slater’s) comments I agree with.”
But Woods said that, like Slater, who works as a commentator on Channel 9, he’s entitled to air views that may not always be popular.
“You’ve got to have an opinion, whether it’s good or bad,” Woods added.
“You’ve got to be critical of people’s performances sometimes which is what Billy is a lot of the time.
“I watch him on Channel 9.
“And you’ve got to be positive as well which he is at the same time.”