Cameron Munster’s performance in the State of Origin series opener had all the hallmarks of one of Wally Lewis’ top-shelf displays in the Queensland No.6 jersey.
Wally was just a natural footballer who had deceptive strength and speed and even though he wasn’t the fastest across the ground, he was the fastest between the ears.
That’s how Munster played in game one against the Blues. He’s a bit of a free spirit, like Wally was, but there’s no fanfare about him when he’s on the field, he’s just doing whatever the team needs to get the job done.
And we saw that with the way he ran the ball, passed wide when needed and came up with a pair of strips to put NSW on the back foot.
Munster has been one of the form players in the NRL this season and there are not too many players in that class who can do what he did in game one.
He’s already one of the great five-eighths who have played for Queensland and he’s only midway through his career.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Daly Cherry-Evans worked well alongside him, Kalyn Ponga was back to his best at fullback and Harry Grant made a world of difference when he came on so it’s fair to say the Queensland spine got the better of the Blues.
The difference between game one last year when Queensland were flogged 50-6 in Townsville and what we saw at Accor Stadium couldn’t be any greater.
A lot of the credit for that should go to Billy Slater.
It reminds me a fair bit of when Mal Meninga took over in 2006 and he blooded a few new guys who were untested at Origin level and they became long-term Maroons representatives.
Reuben Cotter had a wow of a game to play the full 80 minutes at lock, Pat Carrigan made some great hits when he came off the bench, Selwyn Cobbo had a few classy runs down the wing and the other debutant, Jeremiah Nanai, didn’t get as much time as he would have liked after that ankle injury but he showed great courage to come back on.
Billy trusted these guys and for the ones he brought back from last year, it was clear that they had spirit back in the side again.
Their scrambling defence, kick-chase, all the effort areas were outstanding.
I lost count of the amount of tries they snuffed out. I think Billy with his background as a fullback would have drummed that into his players. No matter what on the last play keep moving, get back behind the ball.
Valentine Holmes was exceptional at the back, especially considering he had to switch from centre to wing mid-game and that dive to collect the loose ball when it was toed ahead was a tremendous effort to shut things down.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Game ones can be tough for both teams to get going and I think NSW were a bit too conservative when they had good-ball sets, particularly in the first 30 minutes.
They had a couple of chances and decisions in the first half that didn’t go their way. Their back five made some solid contributions to get them down the attacking end but they didn’t capitalise.
And they were desperately unlucky not to get over the line a couple of times towards the end but Queensland held firm.
I don’t think NSW will be too worried or need to make drastic changes going into game two in Perth in a few weeks but they will need to get a bit more cohesion in their attack to turn the series around.
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DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Great game, but I think the post mortems are a bit much. There was really little in the game and half a meter here and there and NSW wins. And don't change their team or panic.
Muzz
Guest
Agree. Munster went next level. I was in oar of his performance! He will look great in red, white and blue.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Agree, it's a complete abdication of responsibility that is just not acceptable in a professional sport
vonManstein
Roar Rookie
On the contrary, I think QLD will get better as the series goes on. There's still a lot of room for improvement in them. NSW will too, which makes for a pretty exciting proposition.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Yeah, I agree with this. NSW were not bad at all. They were really missing Turbo and Latrel. QLD could be a lot better as well. To me it was two good sides who were a little rusty as game ones just about always are.
Nick Psaros
Guest
I thought NSW were very poor. Queensland played about as good as they can and got the rub of the green. The try off the scrumbase for Cherry was embarrassing defending. Probably the worst I've seen at origin level. Watching the game, I was waiting for Munster to be penalised every time he made a tackle. If you watch him closely, he holds players down for as long as he's allowed. Last night he could have lay on them for 30 seconds and nothing would have happened. Having said that Queensland should celebrate today, as I doubt it will be close in the next two.
Adam
Roar Guru
I dunno they handed that first try to NSW. Gagai went high into contact when low was needed. He'd also misread the play
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Public whinging sends a really poor message to your players too. Do it privately, if you feel the need to. But publicly you should be saying "It's in our hands, we have areas to improve and we will improve and we will win next time."
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Agree, he's not on the same level as a game manager. Munster does have that ability to impose himself on the moment though, like the King.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! There was nothing much between the teams really. NSW had a couple of poor defensive reads that cost them two tries, they butchered a couple of their own and QLD scrambled well all night to stop other NSW opportunities. QLD too butchered a couple of opportunities , but they never handed up easily a couple of tries like NSW did.
Nat
Roar Guru
Where Munster and King are similar is the ability to make a big play when needed. Munster has no where near the game management of Wally.
Nat
Roar Guru
I agree. A lot of chat about NSW getting better but i thought they were much slicker but just Qld scrambled. If Qld get better in attack they put another 2-3 tries on.
Kevin
Guest
Yes Munster was great, but I think that comes from NSW knowing that DCE and Ponga are themselves lethal play makers and have to mark them accordingly. Teddy ain't a ball playing full back , the 6 for NSW is useless without Cleary firing, and given that Cleary gets shut down .
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I honestly thought NSW dominated the game and had better sets. But QLD won the big moments and made the most of their opportunities/busted themselves to kill NSW’s
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You’re always going to get defensive lapses though. I feel like what one the game for QLD was when NSW managed to split them, they grafted hard to shut down the opportunity.
Combesy
Roar Guru
Munster is box office. He's a throw back in his character and the way he plays footy
Rellum
Roar Guru
Ok, calm down. He was great but lets not get carried away.
3 R M
Roar Rookie
Very little difference between the two sides I think. Nsw back 5 apart from staggs were emense. Hass is an exceptional player . But the little things were the difference. Cotter was the king of the ruck he learnt a lot in camp. I saw him replicate Cam Smiths ruck control in defence locking the ball arm pushing boundarys and in every tackle . He also did a few Alfie specials rolling NSW big forwards over his body and I'm positive he wasn't credited in the stat's for all his tackle involvements. I said a few weeks ago Billy would pick him and he could play 80. Cameron Munster take a bow this is the second time I've thought this. wear the Qld 6 and you are expected to play as close as you can to the King and he was sensational again . The young debutantes were Brave and very effective the old heads lead the way. Billy said last year that Qld had no attention to detail well he fixed that. He he had a plan and picked a side to execute it. Perth will be a special event with 2 very good sides playing rugby league at its highest level bring on game 2.
Adam
Guest
QLD and Munster played well and deserved the win but as good as individual players were NSW defensive lapses cost three tries last night, winger came in twice and created overlaps and Tedesco, as good as he was, went into a fullback position when he packed in at lock and didn't cover and DCE ran straight through! I also thought the hooked service was slow and the kicking game from NSW was poor and certainly nothing to do with the referee
matth
Roar Guru
A couple of time in commentary Johns was laughing at what Munster was doing saying no one else would even think to do what he did