MITCHELL JOHNSON: Billy Slater did not need to respond to Aaron Woods calling him a grub ahead of Origin II

After flying into Perth and creating a media storm, Queensland coach Billy Slater has flown out with plenty to reflect on.

Including a State of Origin decider in Sydney next month after the Maroons managed to hold off NSW’ tremendous fightback at Optus Stadium on Wednesday night.

In terms of what happened on the field in Perth, Slater must be pleased with the first half, even though they let their great rivals surge back into the game after the break.

Queensland seemed to play too conservatively, making errors that nearly cost them dearly. With a team like NSW pushing hard, it was a reminder that in sport, especially footy, the game isn’t over until the final siren.

While they should relish a famous victory, it’s essential the Maroons learn from the mistakes made in that second half and figure out how they can better slow NSW down when they get on a roll like they did.

A win is a win and the loss will be hard to take for the Blues after getting so close and just falling short.

I particularly enjoyed the energy from the crowd in Perth and the strong support rugby league received. The contest in the wet conditions, marked by big hits and a bit of argy bargy, was great entertainment.

Slater might leave Perth having learned plenty off the field as well. Just last week, I wrote about the pressure on Slater in his demanding role as Queensland coach in the wake of his decision to axe captain Daly Cherry-Evans.

It all bubbled over with his reaction to former NSW star Aaron Woods calling him a “grub”, and he’s now apologised for his subsequent comments on predecessor Paul Green’s death.

Slater has been standing up as a coach does and shielded his team by stepping in front of the mic himself, and it’s commendable that he was accountable and reached out to Green’s family, apologising for his comments.

But the way he reacted to the “grub” comment raises some interesting questions, and I feel it has been blown up bigger than it should be.

While I appreciate the growing conversation around mental health, I find it difficult to pinpoint the line between banter and what crosses into disrespectful territory.

Hasn’t there always been a bit of this verbal sparring before big Origin games? It’s become a part of the sport’s culture, creating a bit of theatre to get fans excited.

If someone makes personal comments towards another, then that is a no-go, but I’m not sure this fits that category when Woods was talking about a well-known on-field incident from Slater’s playing career.

I’m not in Billy’s shoes, so I don’t know what he was feeling or going through, which was a point he was trying to make. You never know what others are going through, but should the word that was used be taken this way?

Everyone in professional sport reacts differently to these situations, and while Slater is certainly experienced in the media spotlight, I think he could have sidestepped the comment rather than engaging with it, but it is also his choice to answer as he likes.

In the grand scheme of things, words are just that — words. Why let someone else’s opinion have such an impact?

I also feel that resilience is crucial in all sports and life in general.

Labels like “cane toads” for Queenslanders and “cockroaches” for New South Welshmen have been part of the rivalry for years. Where do we draw the line?

Slater’s points were valid, but there’s also something to be said about building toughness and being able to handle a bit of banter on the field or in the lead-up to battle. After all, it’s all part of the game we love.