Billy Slater is undoubtedly a Maroons legend based on his playing record alone. His coaching career with the Queensland side got off to a flying start with two impressive series victories in 2022 and 2023, before losing to the Blues last year. However, it’s amazing how quick the tides can turn and from being held up as Queensland’s next legendary, dynasty building coach, Billy Slater is now under real pressure for the first time as Queenslands head coach.

In 2022 and 2023 Slater was able to get the most out of his squad, despite being comparatively weaker than the NSW side who boasted the bulk of the Panther’s golden generation. Billy has gone on to build a core squad that he can rely on, but this year as the pressure has mounted he has had to make some crucial calls that could either make or break his tenure as Queenslands coach.

Since Billy Slater took over, only four players have been selected for every game with others being dropped and recalled based on form and some missing out due to injury. But for Billy his most trusted quartet of players are Valentine Holmes, Patrick Carrigan, Harry Grant and Lindsay Collins. Daly Cherry-Evans was part of that group, right up until this week when the axe swung and Billy booted him from the side. It was undoubtedly the biggest selection call Billy Slater has made during his time as head coach as he decided to move on from the incumbent Queensland captain in favour of Tom Dearden.

There is now an enormous amount of pressure on the young half’s shoulders to turn this Queensland sides fortunes around, whilst Cameron Munster now has the added responsibility of captaining his state. You can never right off a team in State of Origin but for the first time in a long time, it feels like Queensland are panicking a little bit and don’t quite have the answers for how to combat a dominant NSW team. Logic would suggest that the forward pack needed to be freshened up, but Billy has gone in a different direction. He should be applauded for making the big decisions that he feels are necessary but if it backfires he might have made a rod for his own back.