Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has indicated that his upcoming State of Origin series decider on July 8 could be his final match in charge. Slater, who has led the Maroons to three series wins in his four attempts, stated he will not be signing another contract with the Queensland Rugby League (QRL).
"I don't think so, but I don't know," Slater said on Monday from the Maroons camp on the Sunshine Coast. "I won't be signing another contract. This is not a contract job for me."
Slater, 43, inked a three-year extension at the end of the 2023 series, which expires this year. He clarified that his coaching role is driven by a desire to help the team inspire Queensland, and his position would change if that motivation waned or if the QRL identified a better candidate.
When asked if his future coaching tenure would proceed on a handshake basis, Slater confirmed, "Yep, pretty much. It might surprise you, but that's how it is."
Slater's potential departure from the Maroons comes as Melbourne Storm chairman Matt Tripp has publicly identified Slater as a desirable candidate to succeed coach Craig Bellamy, who is managing a neurodegenerative disorder. Bellamy has not guaranteed he will continue coaching beyond the current season.
Slater emphasized his motivation for coaching stems from the inspiration he received from the Maroons as a child and his current desire to provide that same inspiration to the people of Queensland.
"I really enjoy helping this group of men go and inspire our people of Queensland," Slater said. "When that changes, my position will change. Or if someone in the QRL decides there's someone better for the job, I'm all for that as well."
The Maroons are preparing for the Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium, aiming for their first home win since 2023. Slater stressed the importance of earning every moment of the upcoming match, dismissing the relevance of past results.
"One thing I want to be really clear about is that it won't just happen for us in nine days' time," he stated. "You have got to earn every situation, every moment. That is what we are chasing. The venue means a lot to us but what happened three weeks ago, 12 months ago or 30 years ago is nearly irrelevant. What happens in the next nine days and what happens in the 80 minutes is what will decide the outcome and what we will be focusing on."
A victory in the upcoming match would mark Slater's fourth series win from five attempts, solidifying his reputation as one of State of Origin's prominent coaches.