Maroons great confirmed as Slater’s coaching replacement
Darius Boyd has been appointed as the new coach for the Queensland Maroons rugby team, replacing Billy Slater on a two-year contract. Boyd, a former player, expressed his commitment to honoring the team's legacy during his inaugural press conference.
Why it matters
This appointment marks a significant leadership transition for one of Australia's most prominent sporting teams.
Sport NRL State of Origin ‘Are you trying to make me emotional?’: Boyd opens up on journey to Maroons job Liam O'Loughlin and Lachlan Harper Updated September 3, 2026 - 8.35am . First published at 4.13am
shares Share article Darius Boyd managed to keep the tears away at his inaugural Maroons press conference after discussing his journey to the job and how proud his late grandmother would be of him.
Boyd was announced on Thursday as Queensland ’s next State of Origin coach, replacing Billy Slater on a two-year deal.
Darius Boyd has been named Queensland coach. QRL
Boyd has coached the U19s Queensland team for the past two years and had publicly expressed his desire to take over from Slater , who stepped down from the role after winning three of his five Origin series at the helm.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in