Former New South Wales second-row Ryan Hoffman has torn into Aaron Woods, branding him a ‘coward’, for his comments igniting a war of words with Billy Slater last week.
Woods, also a former NSW player, had taken a shot at the Queensland coach’s character, branding him a ‘grub’ during a live radio show.
Slater hit back prior to his side’s 26-24 victory against NSW in State of Origin II but had appeared to link Paul Green’s death in 2022 with a mental health issue and not Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
Slater would later apologise to Green’s family, both publicly and privately and was praised by Hoffman for his courage.
‘Bill [Slater] wrongly made the point about linking it to Paul Green,’ Hoffman told ABC Sport’s Offsiders podcast.
‘But the point he was trying to make was perfect.
Former New South Wales second-row Ryan Hoffman (right) has torn into Aaron Woods, branding him a ‘coward’
It came after Woods had launched a shocking attack on Queensland coach Billy Slater
Speaking on Woods, he added: ‘Just throwing out those comments, you don’t know what people have got going on in their lives – you don’t know the effect that that can have. In the end, all you’re doing is allowing other people to say those comments in the name of “banter”. But where do you draw the line? Is calling someone a grub where you would draw the line?
‘Is calling someone worse, is it making sexist, racist comments to people allowed because it’s in the name of “banter”?
‘Just throwing those ridiculous comments out just gives more people avenues to say what they want to who they want without any repercussions.
‘Aaron Woods was a coward for standing behind a microphone and throwing that out there.
‘Billy Slater showed courage going out there on a microphone and talking about responsibility.
‘He made a mistake and apologised to the Green family but he fronted up in front of the camera, in front of the microphone, every single time.’
During an episode of Triple M’s Breakfast show, Woods had brought up how Slater had kicked Wests Tigers prop John Skandalis in the head during a game in 2006.
‘I want to see the real Billy Slater come out – the grub that we know of. This is a bloke who kicked John Skandalis in the head and got a six-week suspension. Everyone wants to go “Oh he’s such a nice bloke”,’ Woods had said.
Woods had branded Slater a ‘grub’ on a live radio broadcast, with Slater subsequently firing a shot back at Woods
Slater (pictured) mistakenly made a reference to the late Paul Green in his response to Woods,
Hoffman, taking note of the storm of controversy that has followed, then added that Woods overstepped the mark.
‘If he were to come out and make a point about Billy Slater’s tactics, about Billy Slater’s selection – that’s fine. But to purposefully call someone a “grub”, to purposefully degrade someone like that, someone that he knows, someone that he made sure his son got to meet and have a photo with.
‘But for him to say that just to provide extra spice ahead of Origin – that’s rubbish.’
Woods has since refused to back down over his ‘grub’ comment despite Slater echoing Hoffman’s comments stating that Woods had neglected his responsibility as a radio host by making the shock comment.
‘Those comments I made last Tuesday, I stand by them,’ Woods told Triple M’s Breakfast show last week.
‘You say something about a person, that person is owed a right to reply. He [Billy Slater] has had seven days to reply… he has taken his time, he’s been very well thought-out, he’s been very measured in what he’s had to say.
‘A lot of the comments, I agree with.
‘But one in particular comment that he did make, I just thought Billy went a little bit over the boundary, and I just think it was really – I just think it was completely unnecessary for the situation.’
Woods (right, pictured with Beau Rydan and Natarsha Belling) said he stood by the comment last week
Slater had fired a dig back at Woods, appearing to make a point that he did not deserve his position in the media, adding that those holding the microphone have a responsibility.
But he mistakenly appeared to reference Green.
‘I sit in that position most weeks and you amplify your voice to millions of people. You’re not talking to your mates in the pub.
‘I know Aaron Woods. I actually ran into him three or four weeks ago at a footy game and he didn’t voice that opinion then. He actually brought his son over to introduce him to me.
‘When you degrade someone personally in a derogatory manner, you probably don’t deserve one of those privileged positions that we’re all in.
‘You don’t know what people are going through.
‘And although I might be able to handle it, the next person mightn’t be. Maybe our last coach didn’t.’
Green had coached the Maroons in the 2021 Origin Series before Slater had taken over in 2022.
Hoffman (left) lauded Slater though for immediately issuing an apology both to Green’s family and to the public
The former North Queensland coach had been living with a ‘severe’ case of CTE.
His widow, Amanda, also lauded Slater on his courage to apologise.
‘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.
‘This statement is not about rehashing the events of yesterday.
‘However, in saying that, yesterday’s commentary did highlight to me just how far we still must go in raising awareness and understanding around CTE.
Green’s wife Amanda, (pictured left and right) also lauded Slater for his courage in immediately reaching out to her to apologise after making the comment
‘Paul was diagnosed with Stage Three CTE. Severe CTE. He was living with a very advanced brain disease.
‘CTE is a degenerative brain disease found in athletes, military veterans and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma. CTE is caused in part by repeated traumatic brain injuries.
‘I now have a responsibility to use my voice to help others, to help those who have lost loved ones, those who are currently struggling themselves or those who are supporting a loved one going through this horrendous disease.’
‘Aaron Woods crossed the line,’ he said on ABC Sport’s Offsiders podcast.
‘If he were to come out and make a point about Billy Slater’s tactics, about Billy Slater’s selection – that’s fine. But to purposefully call someone a “grub”, to purposefully degrade someone like that, someone that he knows, someone that he made sure his son got to meet and have a photo with.
‘But for him to say that just to provide extra spice ahead of Origin – that’s rubbish.’
‘Media around Origin time is absolutely horrific. Both states are guilty of it. Both states just throw things on the back of their headlines ‘cos they need to create this artificial spice. “The build-up to Origin I was boring”, it wasn’t boring! There is enough to talk about in these games without having to throw ridiculous comments around.
‘Media around origin needs to be better. People who get to talk about origin and put their voices into people’s lounge rooms or in the car over the radio – you have a responsibility and a privilege of being up there so you really need to watch what you’re saying because it does have an effect.’
Slater, meanwhile, guided his Queensland side to a huge 26-24 victory in State of Origin II on Wednesday, levelling the series 1-1
‘Bill [Slater] wrongly made the point about linking it to Paul Green. But the point he was trying to make was perfect.
Speaking on Woods, he added: ‘Just throwing out those comments, you don’t know what people have got going on in their lives – you don’t know the effect that that can have. In the end, all you’re doing is allowing other people to say those comments in the name of “banter”. But where do you draw the line? Is calling someone a grub where you would draw the line?
‘Is calling someone worse, is it making sexist, racist comments to people allowed because it’s in the name of “banter”?
‘Just throwing those ridiculous comments out just gives more people avenues to say what they want to who they want without any repercussions.
‘Aaron Woods was a coward for standing behind a microphone and throwing that out there.
‘Billy Slater showed courage going out there on a microphone and talking about responsibility.
‘He made a mistake and apologised to the Green family but he fronted up in front of the camera, in front of the microphone, every single time.’
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