Billy Slater has defied suggestions he lacks the experience to succeed in the Origin coaching arena, and hinted he may seek mentorship from someone like Wayne Bennett in his new role as Maroons coach.
The Queensland legend was officially unveiled as the state's incoming Origin coach after accepting a two-year deal to replace Paul Green.
After Green stepped down from the role after just one year to pursue an NRL gig, Slater emerged as a clear frontrunner having narrowly missed out on the job ahead of this year's series to the man he will ironically replace.
As a player, Slater has helped lead the Maroons to 11 series victories, as well as operated as a selector for the past two series, yet his appointment to the Maroons' top job marks his first foray into senior-level coaching.
It's led many to question the 38-year-old's readiness for the role, particularly with the Maroons attempting to arrest an era of New South Wales dominance, with the Blues winning three of the last four series.
While some of those who know him best, namely former teammate Cameron Smith and Storm coach Craig Bellamy, have declared Slater naturally built to succeed as a coach.
After accepting the job on Thursday, Slater said he expected his experience to be placed under the spotlight immediately but backed himself to take to the role quickly.
"I understand there will be people with opinions saying I've never coached a footy team before," Slater said in an interview with the QRL.
"That's correct but I'm not teaching physics, I'm not building a rocket, I'm coaching a football team and it's what I know best.
"It's important I do it my way.
"It would be irresponsible not to lean on some great people around the Queensland State of Origin team that have been there in the past, that have been successful.
"At the end of the day, I need to be my own coach and we'll work out what that means over the next couple of years I suppose."
Slater's revelation he will look for the support of others from within the Maroons' inner sanctum throws further weight to claims Wayne Bennett could return to the Maroons coaching setup.
Bennett will leave the South Sydney Rabbitohs and return home to Queensland at the end of this NRL season. He has put his hand to coach Brisbane's second team, which is set to be introduced in 2023, but remains a free agent next year.
With the way he helped mastermind an unlikely series victory in 2020 in a one-year cameo with Queensland, taking his Origin series tally to five, Bennett's mentorship to Slater in his first year as an Origin coach would be pivotal.
It's also been speculated that Slater's former Origin teammates Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston will be brought into the fold in some capacity, the latter having been a part of Green's staff this year.
Slater said he'd immediately turn his attention to piecing together his support staff over the coming weeks.
“I thought it was important that I had to commit first, then we’ll put the pieces of the puzzle together," the two-time premiership-winning Storm legend said.
“Over the next little period, we’ll build a support staff around the players that will best assist the players to play at their optimal.”