Billy Slater has announced he will step down as head coach of the Queensland Maroons and will not return for the 2027 State of Origin series, Queensland Rugby League confirmed on Friday 14 August 2026.
Billy Slater steps down as Queensland Maroons State of Origin coach after five years
Billy Slater has announced he will step down as head coach of the Queensland Maroons and will not return for the 2027 State of Origin series, Queensland Rugby League confirmed on Friday 14 August 2026.
Slater, 43, began coaching the Queensland side in 2021 ahead of the 2022 series. During his five years in the role, he coached the Maroons to series victories in 2022, 2023 and 2025, while losing the 2024 and 2026 series.
As a player, the Nambour-born Slater made his NRL debut for the Melbourne Storm in 2003 and retired from the club in 2018. He scored 190 tries for the Storm, described in the source as the third most in Australian first-grade rugby league history, and holds the club record for most tries as well as the NRL record for most tries by a fullback.
Slater represented Queensland in 31 State of Origin matches between 2004 and 2018, scoring 12 tries and winning eight series. He played 30 times for Australia, making his international debut in 2008, and was inducted into the National Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2024.
- The source does not state what prompted Slater to step down at this time beyond his saying the time felt right.
- The source does not identify any candidates being considered for the next Maroons head coach position.
- The source does not state a timeline for the QRL's appointment process.
- The source does not confirm Slater's plans after leaving the role.
- The source text contains a double comma after '190 tries for the Storm,,' which may indicate a minor typographical error in the original.
Read the original at ABC News Australia