Billy Slater reflects on 'very eventful' Origin series loss for Maroons 05:50

Coming up this afternoon, you'll see this next game live and free on Nine. We'll be calling it from the interactive studio as well. Manly taking on the Titans. And a part of the coverage on Nine is our great mate, the Queensland coach, Billy Slater. Hey, Bill. Hey, Bill.

Hey, Levy, let's keep the qualifications aside. I only went to grade 11, so I'm not going to go into grade 11. I don't worry, mate. We've been talking about the validity of power boards and double adapters and what you can plug in. Well, given you've got a fairly sizable property down there in Melbourne, do you sometimes piggyback a power board off a power board, if you know what I mean?

I stay away from all electricity, all things that can bite you, snakes, electricity, all that sort of stuff. Those horses can do some damage if you get close enough, but that's a story for another day. This afternoon, Billy, Manly taking on the Titans. I love a Sunday afternoon at Brookvale and they're going to have another big crowd there this afternoon.

Yeah, blue skies out as well. So it's a beautiful day here at Brookie. Both of these teams have got some flies in their side too. I just have a look at the two fullbacks, Kano Kinney and Tommy Turbo. So I think there's going to be some points scored today, both like using the football and big

Big Desi Hasler back at Brookvale. Yeah, it could be anything. Hey, Billy, there's a lot of storylines. As you said, Desi back at Brookie. But what about the two teams? Can you see one of these teams sort of pushing comes finals time?

Yeah, I think they'll have to keep their run going. It might be hard for the Titans. They've got a pretty tough run coming up. But I think there's a block of teams through that middle of the ladder that really need to win every game from here on in and hope for the best. And Manly are probably one of those teams. I think they've got...

the artillery to continue their run with Trebojevic back at fullback. And if he can find his best and link up with Daley Cherry-Evans and a few of the young stars out wide in Coler, I think they've got the real strike. But like I said, the Titans have been doing a fair bit right of late. They've won their last few. And they'll be coming down here full of confidence.

Billy, Tommy Turbo, there was a big song and dance made of the fact that he was in the centres and when he came back and it was going to be modified and all that sort of stuff. Next thing you know, he's playing fullback. You being possibly the greatest fullback of all time, is that his slot? Just playing fullback in club football and leave him there?

Oh, look, I think from what he's done over the last few years, I think we all know that that's his best position. But it's about what's best for the team and also where he's at with his fitness. We know there's some demands in and around that position and the work rate that comes with it. But he's been out for a long period of time with a recurring hamstring injury, that shoulder injury. So...

to nurse him back in and help him on his way through the centres is probably a smart thing. You know, and they've got the likes of Kohler and young Hoppawattie that can fill in that position as well. So there's a bit of a luxury there, but I think at the end of the day, you know, manly at their best, you know, Tommy Turbo's wearing the one.

Mate, I know you're a big fan of the show and you listen a lot. I've said repeatedly in the last probably 10 weeks that I believe Khan Pereira is the fastest winger in the game. Now, I've been held down by these three gibberers in here with me and they say Jason Saab is faster than him. Do you have an opinion on that? And they're actually up against each other today. Well, they're both number twos.

in the program so they may not be up against each other do you have an opinion on who do you think would be the fastest out of those two? It'd be a foot race we were actually talking on the Sunday footy show this morning about having a match race at the grand final and all clubs having representatives there was even talk of maybe having an Everest slot sort of situation but those two guys would certainly feature Tolly Collars he's not

slow either and if anyone finds himself in the clear we might just get a glimpse of it today so I think Saab just the efficiency of his running. Yes. Khan Pereira off the mark he might get him over the first 30, 40. No, no, go with your first one. This holds a lot of credit because Billy's one of the fastest as well. You know what would have been better topic for you on the footy show today? The slowest quote in the game. LAUGHTER

Have a front-rollers ratio. Exactly, over 400 just to really make it tight. Half the time only goes for 20 minutes, big man. Just make it longer. Extend it. Extend it, no problem. Hey, Billy, before you go, I'm sure you won't mind us asking you one or two questions about Wednesday night. What we've said over the course of the weekend is the State of Origin Series this year was one of the best we've seen, and I think both states should be enormously proud. Look, there's always got to be a winner and a loser, but you must be enormously proud of your team.

Yeah, it was very eventful. And I've probably reiterated how much it means to everyone. It means a lot to the Queensland people. I know that firsthand being one of them. And we see how much it means to New South Wales as well. And, you know, there's 34 players that played in that decider. I think every one of them should be able to, you know, hold their head high and walk proud of their performance.

performance. It was 16 minutes to go. Our boys were in front and 16 minutes away from holding the shield and we just weren't good enough this year and New South Wales were. They deserve the shield and they'll enjoy it for 12 months and we'll go into battle again next year. So

It was a heck of a series and we just weren't quite good enough to get the job done this year. All right, mate. Well, good calling this afternoon and we'll record the Billy Slater podcast tomorrow. I'm sure we'll go into a bit more about Origin and this exciting run home to the finals because the race is well and truly on as we get ready for the business end of the 2024 season. Thanks, Bill.

Thanks, boys. Have a good Arvo. Talk soon, mate. There he is, the Queensland coach and our colleague from Nines Wide World of Sports, Billy Slater, joining us here on the Continuous Call team.