So we are about three weeks into the off-season and I am bored already. The internationals have been poor and the cricket just doesn’t have any pull on me whatsoever.
So what to do? Go to farmers markets with my partner, I hope not. Go to the gym? Hmm, its my off-season, too.
So instead of doing something productive or healthy I have thrown myself into Kayo as well as looking at some stats from this year and it got me thinking about some ‘who would you rather’ articles I wrote last year. I thought I would give them another go with the two players under the spotlight being Luke Keary of the Sydney Roosters and Cam Munster of the Melbourne Storm.
If they were on the open market, who would you want your team to chase? Both would attract close to a million dollars on the open market with a bidding war coming about.
Keary and Munster both had great years for their clubs in 2019 and are the two best five-eighths in the game. They are game-winners for their teams but they each have very different styles.
For the season just gone, Munster scored eight tries, had 15 try assists with another 14 line break assists. He averaged close to 100 running meters a game, broke over 60 tackles for the year and helped lead the Storm to another minor premiership. He was able to force 11 drop outs and averaged almost 200 kicking meters a game. He tackled at a respectable 83% success rate. He had a fantastic year for the Storm and is the one player I really fear during the Origin period.
(AAP Image/Darren England)
For Keary, this year was the continuation of the 2018 grand final. He went to a level that very few expected and Roosters fans hoped it would go on to become the norm. Keary had a great year, winning his third premiership and cementing himself as one of the game’s best halves.
He is yet to play Origin or many games for Australia, meaning he still has the rep arena to conquer unlike Munster. For the year, Keary scored two tries, set up 22 tries and another 20 line breaks. He averaged 56 running meters a game. Keary was able to force 16 drop outs for the year and kicked on average 238 meters a game. He made effective tackles 84% of the time.
There seems to be clear strengths for both men. Munster is a great ball-runner able to engage defenders with his footwork and strength. During Origin 3, he seemed to break tackles at will and was really the only threat to the Blues. His ability to engage defenders is the best in the game for a half and a key to the Storm attack. Cam Smith and Munster have been able to keep the Storm humming after the likes of Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater have moved on.
While Munster bases his game on footwork and strength, Keary has based his game on his speed off the mark and his ball playing.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
His ability to get out side the A defender and create an overlap is second to none. He is the key to the most dangerous left hand side in the game. Latrell Mitchell seems to struggle when Keary doesn’t play. Keary’s ability to unlock Mitchell was the key to the grand final-winning try against the Raiders. Keary attacks short sides with so much speed that it makes it difficult for defences to contain the likes of Mitchell, James Tedesco and Daniel Tupou.
Both of these five-eighths are the premier talent in their position – but they are very different.
I have found it hard to choose between them as I write this article. Munster has proven himself at rep level whereas Keary is yet to be tested at that level.
They have both proven themselves as winners and would improve any team that they were a part of. My bias gives Keary a big head start when I am forced to choose between the two, but I feel Keary is more the playmaker and has slightly more ability to make those around him better.
So for me, I am going for Luke Keary… just.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Munster, because he's a natural footballer and can defend
Rob
Guest
Munster is ahead of Keary IMO. He's stronger in defence and attack. I think Keary is very much suited to having very good players around him. Cordner, Mitchell, Tedesco and the best General inside him guiding the team around. Let's see if Keary can continue his form without Cronk. Keary hasn't broken into SOO level yet.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Keary has won 3 if you include the Souffs victory
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I really like Luke Keary who is an outstanding Footy player but Munster is a freak With natural talent to burn. In addition he’s a big unit and fast to boot
Catherine
Guest
Thank you so much for your comment. I so so so agree. Munster has been made by Smith, Cronk and Slater. I know Keary has Cronk, Mitchell and Tedesco but he's won 2 Grand Finals - Munster only one and who was it with Smith, Cronk and Slater. I still rate Morgan. He's form dropped off because its all up to him. He needs help. Drinkwater may be that person. Anyway Keary all the way
Catherine
Guest
Keary all the time. Munster has the likes of Slater, Smith and Cronk to play alongside. When Slater and Cronk left Storm lose a Grand Final and not make one. He loses it a Grand Final and gets sin binned. Sorry as a Queenslander I'm so disappointed Keary can't play for Queensland and Munster can
Pickett
Roar Rookie
As a pure 5/8, I'd have Keary easy. But Munster has more utility value.
Nat
Roar Guru
He's a blue by the Inglis rule only where by they stretched it back from 1st senior (mens) game to senior high school which means he qualifies for NSW but he chose go to the Qld junior academy but since chose to switch to blues because he qualifies, not that he is a blue. Just like Inglis choosing to play for Qld because the rule allowed, doesn't make him any more Qlder than Gallen.
Wayne Turner
Guest
Keary by miles. Munster is an overrated choker. Never had a great game in a big club game eg: 2018 Grand Final. He's really good,or really bad. And when he's bad,he is terrible. While Keary won the Clive Churchill Medal in the 2018 GF.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
I said he was born in QLD. Who else was born in the town and who he supported as a kid isn't really relevant. Played junior reps in Sydney and lists his junior club as Hills District. It's a mute point though isn't it? If he plays Origin it will be for the blues.
Nat
Roar Guru
Are you going to leave out the rest of the Wiki page? Supported the Broncos and Alfie, born in the same town after all. Starting Uni at Brisbane, playing for Burliegh Bears and Qld junior Ermerging Squad 2013, the year he signed with Souths.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Keary spent the last season at Souths wearing #14. I think what is more of a sliding doors moment is that he had agreed to go to St George until a last minute call from the Chooks. They were actually after Lachlan Coote and Keary wasn’t on the menu until Coote re-signed with the Cowboys.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Also Keary is far more blue than Inglis is maroon. Keary moved to Sydney as a ten year old. The only reason Inglis went to Brisbane was to play in the Storm feeder team as a 16 17 year old.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Played in some under age teams.
Muzz
Guest
Keary hands down. Technically he is superior! Munster is partially wired like an AFL athlete.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I think if you switched the player to the other’s team - how would they go? If Munster had Cronk, Mitchell, Tedesco, etc around him, I think he would be at another level. Put Keary in at the Storm, and I don’t think he would be as dominant.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
However when you look at Keary's performance in the 2018 grand final it was at a level that should show that he is quite capable of playing well at TEST and Origin levels
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Munster was only fined for the attempted field goal using Manu's? head and withdrew from the Kangaroo tour due to personal reasons. I agreed with the fine only, because it wasn't a proper kick to the head it was a pretend one.
TJ
Guest
Very interesting article wouldn't mind seeing a few more. Both are very different players so it really comes down to what the side needs. You need a strike weapon it's Munster but if you want someone to control a side and set up others around him it's Keary. I actually think they would make a great halves combo if they ever get a chance to play together. I'm assuming Keary will be playing at 7 next year with Flanagan at 6 so we might just see them line up at 6 & 7 for Australia. Realistically it probably wont happen as I can't see Mal dropping the QLD captain for a New South Welshman.
Jacks
Roar Guru
Pretty sure Munster was suspended last year for the kick to Manu in the gf? Would have been really close if Keary had been fit