Former Wests Tigers star Cory Paterson has delivered an incredible response after breaking his silence on a shock sledge he once received from Queensland coach Billy Slater.
The 37-year-old is currently living in the United States, having hung up his boots in 2019.
The incident, which took place 15 years ago, has come to the fore again this week after Slater has been embroiled in a war of words with former NSW prop Aaron Woods. On Tuesday, the Queensland coach appeared to make a controversial comment about the late Paul Green as he attempted to shoot a barb back at Woods.
Paterson was playing for Newcastle back in 2009, when he took a leave of absence, announcing that he had been suffering from depression and had revealed that he had previously had suicidal thoughts.
He would later return to the footy pitch and the following season, he found himself and former Melbourne Storm fullback, Slater, having to be pulled apart by their team-mates.
Melbourne’s 20-14 victory over the Knights in 2010, Slater had reportedly told Paterson to ‘Go and have a cry in your room.’
Former NRL star Cory Paterson (pictured with his partner Emma) has opened up on how he was once sledged by Billy Slater
Slater had once told the former Newcastle star to ‘Go and cry in his room’. It came after Paterson had taken a leave from footy to address mental health issues
Paterson (centre) said that there was no ill feeling towards him and Slater, adding that they had hashed out everything immediately after the incident
The Maroons boss issued an apology to Paterson immediately after the fact, revealing that he had called the former Newcastle second-row, adding that the pair were on good terms.
Paterson has since broken his silence on the matter, stating that there was no bad blood between the two rugby league players.
‘What happened between Billy and I was a long time ago,’ he told journalist Phil Rothfield, of The Courier Mail.
‘We sorted everything out there and then and I have no ill feelings whatsoever towards him.
‘I’m sure he has grown a lot as a man over the last 15 years, as I have done.
‘The stigma and society have also changed. It’s actually pretty unfair to him that people are bringing something up from so long ago that was in a different time and environment.’
He also gave an update on how he was doing, revealing: ‘I’m good.’
‘I’m working in oil and gas as well as doing some coaching here with American footballers and rugby guys. It’s all good fun.’
Slater has found himself at the centre of another storm of criticism this week after the Maroons coach appeared to make reference to Paul Green, while throwing a barb at Aaron Woods
Green (left) passed away in 2022. Slater apologised to his wife Amanda (right) for the comments he made on Tuesday
Slater stepped out on Wednesday to apologise unreservedly to Paul Green’s family after he appeared to link the former Queensland coach’s death to a mental health issue rather than Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
‘Although I might be able to handle [criticism], the next person mightn’t be. Maybe our last coach [Green] didn’t,’ Slater had said, during a press conference.
Woods had appeared to question Slater’s character, referencing how he once kicked John Skandalis in the head during a game back in 2006.
Slater, meanwhile, apologised to Green’s family, with his widow, Amanda, breaking her silence on the matter last week, lumping praise on Slater for his bravery.
‘To begin with, I would like to say how very courageous it was of Billy to call me, completely unprompted, yesterday,’ Green said in a statement to The Courier Mail.
‘My heart breaks for Billy Slater as a partner of someone who has been in his position.
‘I completely understand the pressures of the role.
‘It shows a lot about his true character and what a fine role model he is for young men. I commend and admire him for that.’
Slater and his side would go on to secure a huge 26-24 victory on Wednesday night, with the Maroons levelling the series 1-1 in Perth.
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