Munster slots in for Qld as JT departs

After one of the great State of Origin debuts, Cameron Munster has seemingly ended Queensland's hunt for Johnathan Thurston's replacement before it even began.

Cameron Munster

Cameron Munster took charge of things for Queensland on his Origin debut. (AAP)

It took Queensland all of one State of Origin match to find the man to take over at five-eighth for the great Johnathan Thurston.

Cameron Munster's debut in Wednesday night's 22-6 game three victory over NSW not only delivered an 11th series win in 12 years for the Maroons but has eased fears about life after Thurston.

The Melbourne utility set up both of Queensland's second half tries with instinctive runs, made 11 runs for 122 metres, five tackle busts and 18 tackles.

With socks rolled casually around his ankles, Munster had the air of a man playing a game of park footy with his mates, not someone filling the boots of one of the greatest players rugby league has ever seen.

Many felt he shouldn't have even been picked by coach Kevin Walters in the No.6 jersey, with Michael Morgan touted as the better option pre-match.

Not Maroons captain Cameron Smith however.

"I knew that he had that in him. I was very confident in him. That's why when Kev came to me and asked whether he should play centre or five-eighth I said 'give him the No.6'," Smith said.

"If he stays healthy, continues those type of performances he'll keep that jersey for a long time."

Smith's veteran teammates Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater - who also play club football alongside Munster at the Storm - agree the 22-year-old Rockhampton product has the goods to be a Queensland fixture for many years.

"He eats, breathes, sleeps rugby league," Cronk said.

"He's a confident kid. As long as he continues to work hard and does the things that make him play well from Monday to Friday, he can be a fixture in this team for a long period of time."

Slater took Munster under his wing when the youngster established himself at the Storm during Slater's long battle with shoulder injuries.

His protege's efforts on debut in Origin didn't surprise him.

"He's just a natural footballer. My only advice to him was just run the ball, that's what he's good at," Slater said.

"That No.6 jersey is his as long as he wants it, as long as he commits to playing well. It's a very famous jersey and he can continue that tradition."

The man himself isn't getting too carried away.

Munster was Queensland's third five-eighth of the series after Anthony Milford debuted in game one and Thurston's heroics with a busted shoulder in game two.

He says one good Origin appearance will count for little if he can't deliver consistently.

"It makes me feel great knowing my captain for the Storm, my captain for Origin and the captain of Australia has my back," Munster told AAP.

"He believes I can play that role.

"It's great to have one of a the greats of all-time saying that about me but I've got to play well each and every time."


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Source: AAP



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