Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy says Billy Slater will coach the Queensland Origin side the same way he played his football – with a boots-and-all approach.

Slater, who retired from the NRL at the end of 2018, is set to take on the Maroons head coach job after Paul Green’s departure.

He’s believed to have been recommended as the preferred candidate to Queensland Rugby League board by a sub-committee which included former teammate Cooper Cronk.

An announcement is expected to be made in coming days. 

While the 38-year-old Storm great has no coaching experience, Bellamy believes Slater has the right attributes to succeed in the position.

As well as working as a television commentator, Slater held a role with AFL club St Kilda until COVID-related cutbacks last year.

“Obviously Billy hasn’t coached his own team but I don’t think that’s a real issue, especially coaching Origin,” Bellamy said on Thursday.

“Billy’s got a remarkable sense of what the game’s about, what works in a game of footy and what doesn’t and he’s a wonderful communicator.

“The thing I think is his strongest trait is whatever he’s doing he’s fully immersed – there’s no dipping a toe in for Billy, he’s either all in or all out. 

“So if he does get that job, the one thing that you can be sure of there will be no shortcuts.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a more passionate person about the things that are important to him and footy is very important to him.”

The QRL is believed to be looking at providing Slater with a senior mentor such as Wayne Bennett or Mal Meninga.

Another Maroons great Johnathan Thurston has endorsed Slater and said he wanted to continue as an assistant, as he was for Green in this year’s 2-1 series loss.

AAP

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