Racing
League
Rugby
Football
Cricket
Golf
Olympics
Motorsport
Netball
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
FWC: SUI vs BIH live on SN ExtraCoaching genius unleashes Mad Max in Maroon
Joel Gould, AAP •  June 18th, 2026 3:17 pm
Queensland gun Max Plath put himself in the picture in attack and defence to star at the MCG | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
Queensland's everywhere man Max Plath took to heart a dressing room tip and an ethos of coach Billy Slater to star and prove he is a State of Origin player.
The man affectionately known as "Mad Max" by fans chimed into the attack to help set up two tries, make 28 tackles and 115m from 14 runs in a 58-minute display of quality at the MCG.
"Billy has got a great saying that 'if you buy enough tickets to a raffle you will win eventually'. That exemplifies how I play," Plath told AAP after the 44-24 win.
"The more you put yourself in the picture the more things happen."
Things happened alright. When captain Cameron Munster went off for an HIA in the 23rd minute, just five minutes after Plath came off the bench, a pre-game dressing-room chat by Slater allowed Plath to defend in Munster's position with aplomb.
"Billy gave me a tip before we ran onto the field that there is a chance that if Munster or someone else was to come off that I would have to go (and defend) at three-in," Plath said.
"I'm glad he did because I got my head around that straight away. I did my best and I have defended in that position since I was little when I played in the halves, so there were no excuses. I am just glad that Munster came back on.
"I feel like Billy trusts me. I have put a lot of work into my game. There were moments in the camp that I did work at three-in but I never thought that I was going to get that opportunity. Billy predicted it and it happened."
The defence of Queensland utility Max Plath (right) stood up after a switch of plans mid-match | Photo: James Ross/AAP
Slater provided a fascinating insight into his thinking after the win. His trust in Plath, who can handle most positions, is implicit.
"I sat down with Johnathan Thurston for about two hours this afternoon and we went through a whole lot of contingencies," Slater told AAP.
"I thought that if (Munster went off) that was the situation we would go with.
"I didn't know whether it was the right thing in the sheds to actually grab Max and do that, playing just his second Origin game.
"It probably reflected the opinion I have of him, where he is at with his footy and his mentality that he could handle that.
"It obviously paid off because it came to fruition. It doesn't always, but he's a wonderful player and we hold him in high regard."
