The family of former rugby league coach Paul Green have broken their silence after Queensland boss, Billy Slater, made a grovelling apology for his controversial comments about the ex-North Queensland manager ahead of State of Origin II.
Green’s brother, Rick, revealed his family’s discontent on how Slater had spoken about Paul’s tragic passing in 2022 but added that they had accepted the Maroons coach’s apology.
Slater had been attempting to fire a barb back at former New South Wales prop, Aaron Woods, who had criticised him last week by calling him a ‘grub’, when he made reference to Green’s tragic passing back in 2022.
‘Although I might be able to handle [criticism], the next person mightn’t be. Maybe our last coach [Green] didn’t,’ Slater had said during the presser.
While Green’s family have accepted Slater’s apology, they were keen to clarify to the public that Paul passed away as a result of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CT) – not because of a battle with mental health issues, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
‘The family regrets that Paul’s name was brought into the current narrative and the manner this has been done,’ Rick said, on behalf of the Green family to the outlet.
The family of former Queensland coach Paul Green (pictured) have broken their silence after Billy Slater issued an apology to them, after his controversial comments on Tuesday
Slater (pictured) had been attempting to fire a barb back at former NSW prop Aaron Woods when he appeared to make reference to Green’s tragic death
Woods (pictured) had thrown shade at Slater ahead of State of Origin II, branding the Queensland coach a ‘grub’
They told the Sydney Morning Herald that they wished to speak to Slater in the aftermath of State of Origin II.
‘The family wants to reiterate that we love Queensland and its team. We also bear great respect for the person charged with the team’s performance.
‘It was unfortunate that Mr Slater made the reference that he did, but he has responded appropriately and apologised without reservation. We sincerely wish him the best in his role as the coach of our state team.’
Slater, on Wednesday, issued a public apology to the family, admitting that he had overstepped the mark when it came to his comments, relating to Green’s death.
‘Yesterday I wrongly made the link between Paul Green’s death and the pressures of coaching, which wasn’t accurate, nor was it appropriate,’ Slater said.
‘I feel terrible about what I said and I spoke to Amanda Green this morning and apologised for any hurt that it may have caused her and her family.
‘I just want to say this, Paul had CTE. It’s a different disease to what I was referring to.
‘Once again, I’m deeply and genuinely sorry.’
Green’s family said that they had accepted Slater’s apology but added his comments were ‘unfortunate’
Slater has issued an unreserved apology to the family, who were keen to clarity that Green had died because of CTE and not because of mental health-related issues
During his speech on Tuesday, Slater had appeared to question Woods’ role in the media, claiming he didn’t have a right to have a voice after poking a barb at him last week.
The 42-year-old has come under pressure after his side’s State of Origin I defeat, with Slater, who took over the side back in 2022, now having overseen three straight losses as the Maroons manager.
Woods took umbridge at his decision to drop veteran playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans, before going on to bring up how Slater had once kicked John Skandalis, while playing for Melbourne Storm back in 2006.
Slater was asked by reporters about the matter on Tuesday, deflecting the question by asking whehter they really wanted an answer to the question before unloading on Woods.
‘When you hold a position in the media or in our game, I feel that’s a privilege. And with that privilege comes a responsibility,’ Slater said.
‘I sit in that position most weeks and you amplify your voice to millions of people. You’re not talking to your mates in the pub.
‘I know Aaron Woods. I actually ran into him three or four weeks ago at a footy game and he didn’t voice that opinion then. He actually brought his son over to introduce him to me.
‘When you degrade someone personally in a derogatory manner, you probably don’t deserve one of those privileged positions that we’re all in.
Woods (pictured right with current radio co-host Beau Ryan, left, and Natarsha Belling) said he stood by the comments that kicked off the Origin storm
‘You don’t know what people are going through,’ he added, before making reference to Green, who died in 2022, a year after taking charge of the side in 2021.
A post-mortem had found that the North Queensland premiership-winning coach had been living with ‘severe’ undiagnosed CTE.
Woods, though, has since took another shot at Slater stating that the Queensland boss had crossed the line, while admitting he still believed his comments were correct.
‘Those comments I made last Tuesday, I stand by them,’ he began, speaking on Triple M.
‘You say something about a person, that person is owed a right to reply … He’s had seven days to reply … he has 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 the comments, I agree with.
‘But one in particular comment that he did make, I just thought Billy went a little bit over the boundary, and I just think it was really – I just think it was completely unnecessary for the situation.’
Former NRL star Beau Ryan has also slammed Slater over the comments.
During his speech on Tuesday, Slater had appeared to question Woods’ role in the media, claiming he didn’t have a right to have a voice after poking a barb at him last week
‘It took a different turn yesterday. It’s been blown out of proportion,’ he said.
‘It took a dark turn yesterday. From where I’m standing, Billy was waving the white flag.
‘It looked like he’s had a week to reply, you’ve called him a grub – I don’t know if grub means something different in Queensland – he was a grubby player and all that.
‘It’s festered out of proportion and it’s been the only thing people have been talking about before the game, which isn’t right.’
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