Updated August 14, 2026 — 6:27pm,first published 4:42pmBilly Slater has quit as Queensland Origin coach, but insists he has no plans to succeed Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm.Slater confirmed on Friday afternoon he would step down as Maroons coach after three Origin series wins from five attempts.Queensland Rugby League officials will commence an immediate search for his successor, with Ben Te’o and Matt Ballin among the early candidates. Next year’s series will have a fresh look all round, with NSW also under new leadership after Matt King replaced Laurie Daley as Blues coach.Speculation had been swirling that Slater was being groomed to take over from Bellamy after the long-serving Storm mentor indicated he was likely to step aside at the end of 2027. Slater, who currently works with the Storm in a part-time consultancy role, has been spotted deep in conversation with Cam Munster and Harry Grant in the Melbourne dressing room at NRL games recently.But just hours before the news of his Maroons departure broke, Slater was at Royal Randwick for a charity lunch – where he maintained he had no appetite to be a club coach.When asked by Andrew Johns on stage about the possibility of succeeding Bellamy becoming the next Storm boss, Slater said: “That won’t happen. I never say never, but, ‘never’. That’s a 365-day job. You have to be all in for it.”Billy Slater has become a wonderful coach at Origin level.Getty ImagesSlater said he had only taken on the Queensland job after being talked into it by Maroons legend Paul Vautin during a round of golf.“Fatty said, ‘You have to do it, it will be the best thing you’ll do in your life’,” Slater said. “I was waiting for him to laugh, but he didn’t. And he was right. The reward you get when you help guys achieve something for a mass of people you really care about, it’s such a rewarding and fulfilling job.“I won’t sign a long-term deal [with Queensland]. If I’m the right person for the job, I’ll consider it, if I’m not, I’m all for the right person. That’s where I see the role.”The Storm will ramp up plans to lock in Bellamy’s successor once their season finishes, with 2026 the first year they will miss finals since the club’s 2010 salary cap scandal.Slater has long been high on their list of eventual replacements when Bellamy steps away, though Slater has regularly dismissed interest in a full-time NRL role.Melbourne rate Bellamy’s current assistant Ryan Hinchcliffe especially highly and he has broadened his coaching experience in recent years by working with Samoa and the NSW Origin side.Long-time assistant Marc Brentnall has previously indicated little desire in being an NRL head coach.All indications are that Slater will continue in his part-time consultancy role – which includes one-on-one work with star fullback Sua Faalogo – with Melbourne next season.Slater said via a press release on Friday he felt the time had come for him to step away after with eight wins and seven losses as Maroons coach, following a playing career which spanned 31 appearances across 15 years.“From being a boy who idolised this team, to a player, to guiding a group that has inspired our state, this has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in my life,” Slater said.“I want to thank the players, this group gave everything for the jersey, for each other and our state, and I’m proud of what we’ve built together.”The QRL confirmed the search for Slater’s successor would soon begin. Ballin and Te’o, Slater’s assistants for the 2026 series, are likely to come under consideration having both also played for Queensland.Ballin is currently serving under Michael Maguire at the Brisbane Broncos. Te’o was at the Broncos before his sudden departure after the club’s round three win against the Storm.Te’o has been linked to a potential South Sydney homecoming under Wayne Bennett. Former Broncos and Maroons coach Kevin Walters, who coached the state from 2016 to 2019, is contracted to the Kangaroos until June 2028.Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.From our partners