Billy Slater has added two of the game's greats to his coaching staff for this year's State of Origin series, confirming that both Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston would be joining the setup as assistants. The pair will join former Cowboys centre Josh Hannay as Slater's deputies, with Thurston reprising the same role he had under Paul Green in last year's series. It will be Smith's first time in the Maroons' camp since retiring from rep football in 2017. "Some people have this aura about them, and Cameron Smith is one of those people," Slater said. "He didn't have to say a lot as captain of the Queensland State of Origin team, you felt it more than anything … you felt his presence." The rookie head coach also praised Thurston as 'the ultimate competitor'. "We saw all the brilliant stuff that Johnathan brought to the game, but for me it was the work ethic that he demanded from himself, which in turn he demanded from his teammates," Slater said. "I think he can have that sort of impact as a coach also. Obviously, his skills and vision of the game, understanding the balance of when to pull the trigger and when to play the percentage play, that was where he excelled in the big games." Both Smith and Thurston, who are the two most-capped players in Origin history with 42 and 37 respectively, said they were delighted to be involved. "It's a jersey and a team that I'm extremely proud of and passionate about," Smith said. "It's not about anything else, other than trying to help people be better through my knowledge, through my experiences, and if I can make a small difference, I'll be happy."
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