“Don’t Bring My Son Into This”: Aaron Woods Finally Breaks Silence on Explosive Origin Feud With Slater and Hoffman
Former NSW Blues prop Aaron Woods has spoken out at length about the controversy that erupted during this year’s State of Origin series—one that began with a verbal jab and spiraled into a deeply personal war of words involving some of rugby league’s biggest names.
Weeks after his remark about Queensland coach Billy Slater stirred headlines and ignited outrage, Woods finally offered his side of the story. In a candid appearance on Kenty Primetime—the podcast hosted by rugby league journalist Paul Kent—Woods not only defended his original statement but also addressed a particular moment that crossed the line for him: when his son’s name was dragged into the fallout.
It all started during Magic Round earlier in the season, when Woods, working as a commentator for Triple M, crossed paths with Slater in what he insists was an entirely uneventful elevator ride. However, what followed turned into one of the most talked-about feuds of the 2025 Origin campaign.
At the time, Woods had described Billy Slater as a “grub” in the lead-up to Game 2—a comment meant to fire up the rivalry but one that ultimately exploded into controversy. Woods’ jab didn’t sit well with many in the Queensland camp. Among the first to publicly retaliate was former Origin forward and NRL360 host Gorden Tallis, who claimed Woods’ attack on Slater was hypocritical because he had supposedly asked Slater for a photo with his young son Buster just weeks earlier.
That version of events gained even more traction when Slater’s former Melbourne Storm teammate Ryan Hoffman chimed in, branding Woods a “coward” on national radio.
Woods, however, says the story about the photo is flat-out wrong—and he didn’t appreciate his family being dragged into the spotlight.
“Ryan Hoffman called me a coward and then later backtracked,” Woods said on the podcast. “We had a proper chat afterward. I told him straight—say whatever you want about me, but don’t mention my son in stories that never even happened. Buster never took a photo with Billy.”
Woods then provided a detailed account of what actually took place that day at Suncorp Stadium during Magic Round.
According to him, he and his son were heading downstairs in the lift because Buster was about to serve as a ball boy for the match between Newcastle and South Sydney. In the lift, they coincidentally shared the space with Billy Slater and his Channel 9 producer.
“When we reached Level 3, where the Channel 9 and Fox boxes are, we all got out. I said, ‘Hey Bill,’ shook his hand, and told Buster to do the same,” Woods recalled. “Then we walked off. That was it.”
He said Buster, who’s only five years old, didn’t even know who Slater was at the time.
“I told him, ‘Mate, that’s one of the best fullbacks the game’s ever seen.’ And that was the end of it,” Woods said.
The former Origin forward then suggested that someone in the vicinity must have leaked an exaggerated version of the story to Tallis. “There were only three people who could’ve said anything to Gordy. So yeah, someone’s had a little whinge and turned it into something it wasn’t.”
Despite the backlash he copped in Queensland and the media, Woods initially stood by his comments about Slater. But as events spiraled and emotions ran high, things took a darker turn. Slater, responding to the controversy, invoked the mental health challenges faced by players under scrutiny—referencing the late Paul Green, a former Maroons coach who tragically suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) before taking his own life.
That response from Slater hit Woods hard. It made him pause and question whether his offhand “grub” remark had gone too far—especially in a mental health-sensitive era in the sport.
“In that moment, yeah, I did feel partly responsible,” Woods admitted. “I was just riding high after Game 1. NSW didn’t even play that well and still won in enemy territory at Suncorp. I thought we were in the driver’s seat heading to Perth.”
He added that his confidence got the better of him, and looking back now, the second game’s result and the series loss made him reconsider his role in stoking the fire.
“Then we got smashed in the first half in Perth, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, what have I done here?’” he said. “Just stirred the pot and gave them more motivation.”
The fallout from Woods’ comment became a central narrative around the Origin series. Queensland, seemingly fueled by the drama, rallied to win the final two games and take back the shield. Slater, despite being branded a “grub,” had the last laugh—not just by coaching a successful comeback, but by doing so while maintaining his composure throughout the chaos.
Meanwhile, Woods is left with a bitter taste—not because he lost a war of words, but because the argument crossed into territory that should’ve been off-limits: his family.
“You want to call me names? Fine,” Woods reiterated. “But don’t ever drag my son into something that didn’t even happen. That’s where I draw the line.”
It’s clear the wounds from this Origin feud run deeper than just on-field results. For Woods, the real issue wasn’t just being labelled a coward or being criticized for his commentary. It was the personal attacks—particularly those involving his family—that turned the feud into something more serious.
Though the dust has settled on the 2025 State of Origin series, the echoes of this saga will likely linger into next year’s campaign. And as always, the fierce rivalry between Queensland and New South Wales seems to find new fuel with every passing season.
