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Katter's stunning tirade against Maroons coach and selectors

Bob Katter has launched an extraordinary tirade against the Queensland Maroons after taking issue with a controversial selection call.

In a fiery Facebook post, published on Wednesday afternoon, Katter took aim at Queensland selectors for their decision to pick Darius Boyd over Billy Slater.

The Queensland MP, who's never far from the headlines, also made the stunning claim that Maroons coach, Kevin Walters, and selectors are "in the pocket of the Broncos".

He also claimed that he'll be making "an official complaint to the board of the Rugby League of QLD," after their omission of the superstar fullback.

Maroons coach Kevin Walters (left) and Katter (right). Pic: Getty
Maroons coach Kevin Walters (left) and Katter (right). Pic: Getty

Katter's statement in full:


"SLATER HAS BEEN SHAFTED"

"I’m 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.

Slater is one of the greatest fullbacks the game has seen. Pic: Getty
Slater is one of the greatest fullbacks the game has seen. Pic: Getty

"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 do not 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.

"I will be making an official complaint to the board of the Rugby League of QLD.

"I’m a life member of the mid-west rugby league, where I presided for over a quarter of a century – had an uncle killed in football.

"My uncles, my son and I 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."

However many good judges would say Katter's criticism of Walters is misplaced, believing the decision to leave out Slater wasn't made by him at all.

The Queensland coach fought back tears discussing the decision to leave Slater out of his Origin I team.

Walters and fellow Queensland selector Gene Miles described the snubbing of Slater for next week's Origin opener as the "toughest decision we've had to make".

The coach became emotional talking about Slater's omission after sticking with incumbent No.1 Darius Boyd for May 31's Origin I in Brisbane.

At one stage Miles had to help out Walters during his team announcement on Monday.

"That is without doubt the toughest decision we've had to make," said 17-year Maroons selector Miles of Slater.

Boyd gets the nod over Slater. Image: Getty
Boyd gets the nod over Slater. Image: Getty

"He's probably the best fullback I've ever seen, and to make that call... we didn't make that call lightly."

Walters said he hoped Slater would assist at the Queensland team camp on the Gold Coast.

"He was very close, mate. (But) I think it's a bit unfair on Billy to put him under so much pressure in game one of a series," Walters said.

"Everyone expected him to come out and change the world.

"We've relieved him of those duties and I know Darius will get the job done for us.

"He's a great player and deserves first crack at the No.1 jumper."

However an interesting theory has emerged that Walters desperately wanted Slater in the team but was outvoted at the selection table.

Wallabies great Greg Martin reckons the decision to leave Slater out shows there is friction within the Maroons' selectors, made of Walters, Miles and Darren Lockyer.

“Last year he didn’t play because he had that terrible shoulder injury so Kevvy got him to coach and he was magnificent apparently,” Martin said.

“Kevvy had him at Melbourne for years, he knows what he can do. Kevvy wanted him in the team I reckon.

“Kevin Walters has been rolled. For what? Gee, I’m really looking forward to Justin O’Neill playing ahead of Billy Slater.

“Darren Lockyer is in this,” he said.

“Kevvy has been rolled. There’s no way in the world. Kevvy spent years down in Melbourne.

“What’s the most dangerous thing in rugby league? Don’t worry about that big Nelson (Asofa-Solomona) guy down there in Melbourne. It is Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater in a play together. That is the most wicked thing in rugby league and you’re going to chop the head off one of them.”

with AAP