Media Release

24 May 2017: KAP Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter is fuming in response to Queensland’s decision to leave Billy Slater out of the State of Origin team.

“Darius Boyd wouldn’t know what a line break was, if he fell over it on a dark night,” Mr Katter said.

“Some of the greatest try saving tackles recorded in rugby league history, belong to Billy Slater. Few would question that he can make a break out of nothing.

“We don’t deny Darius Boyd he is a solid rock on which you can build an NRL team; however that is not needed at State of Origin level when you have arguably all-time great players such as Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.

“The QLD selectors and coach clearly are in the pocket of the Broncos. And we the rugby league family, respect them for their club loyalty.

“But when that loyalty overrides the aspirations of the rugby league family of QLD to win the State of Origin, there would not be 1% of Rugby League followers who would say that Darius Boyd - a good stock NRL player, should be picked ahead of an “inform” without a doubt – one of the 3 greatest fullbacks in Rugby League history.

“It disheartens and disillusions people when cronyism prevails over fairness and talent,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter said he will be making an official complaint to the board of the Rugby League of QLD.

Mr Katter, a life member of the mid-west rugby league, where he presided for over a quarter of a century – had an uncle killed in football.

“My uncles, I and my son have all played representative football and the greatest and most highly respected judges of the game would not compare Darius Boyd, however good, with one of the all-time greats playing at his best.

‘There are not too many people in that QLD side who can break a line – there are very few in the NRL that can be counted on to break a line.

“Slater has been shafted – what the broncos complained about the Sydney clubs for so many years now apply to them.

“In the immortal words, on the great Cazaly we say to Billy ‘up there and at em, fly like an angel - the crowd’s on your side,” Mr Katter said.