Queensland coach Billy Slater has poured cold water on talk of a State of Origin grudge match with Spencer Leniu, insisting neither he nor his players are paying any mind to the noise around the fiery front-rower.
Leniu, already in the spotlight following his high-profile spat with Maroons great Johnathan Thurston earlier this year, is shaping as a key flashpoint in Wednesday’s Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium.
Tensions were further stoked on Tuesday by a provocative headline in a national daily urging Queenslanders to “smash this NSW grub”.
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But when asked about the supposed feud during the captain’s run press conference, Slater appeared genuinely bemused.
Slater: ‘It certainly didn’t come from me’
“What situation is that?” the Maroons' boss said. “I haven’t seen that headline, and it wouldn’t have come from anyone [inside camp]. You might have to ask the person who put the headline up, it certainly didn’t come from me.
“Those things are out of our control. We can’t control a lot of things that happen, but there’s certain things we can control, and that’s playing footy.”
Despite suggestions that Leniu’s aggressive style and recent controversy might make him a target, Slater was quick to steer focus back to the game itself.
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He also shrugged off criticism that the Origin build-up has lacked spice compared to previous years.
“I don’t think so – the game sells itself,” he said. “There’s been some great encounters in State of Origin. If you need the bitter feud off the field, you’re probably not doing the job on the field.”
Slater added he hadn’t heard of any “spygate” drama in the Blues camp, nor would he be distracted by potential last-minute injury changes, with Stephen Crichton in doubt and Campbell Graham waiting in the wings.