After cheekily calling himself a liar,
Walters was accused of misleading reporters after telling a packed MCG press conference on Monday Slater would play Origin I, only for the Maroons to put out a release hours later confirming the veteran fullback had pulled out.
Walters appeared to make light of the fallout at a Tuesday press conference when addressing yet another drama after winger Dane Gagai suffered a finger injury at training.
"Did he get injured? I didn't see that. I am a liar," Walters quipped when asked about Gagai's fitness.
Asked what he thought of being called a liar by critics in the wake of Slater's withdrawal, Walters said: "I know the integrity of myself and the way I conduct myself.
"I think I am pretty good bloke."
But Walters was later more expansive, saying he wasn't playing "ducks and drakes" even though he admitted delaying telling the media about Slater to protect the team.
"Honestly our team was in Brisbane and I was in Melbourne and I wanted to make sure that our team was fully aware of Billy withdrawing from the game before anyone else outside of the team knew," Walters told Fox Sports' NRL 360.
"That to me is just common sense and if you've been part of a team you know the respect that the team deserves.
"At the end of the day my priority is this rugby league team.
"I will always protect this Queensland team as best as I can until such time as the public and the media need to know about situations that are happening within the team circle."
Walters at least has one less thing to worry about.
Gagai looks set to play after scans did not detect a finger fracture in a shot in the arm for Walters' Maroons as they begin life without retired greats Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.
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