While NSW may be at sixes and sevens over their halves, Queensland coach Kevin Walters says Cameron Munster can emerge as the game's premier five-eighth in Sunday's State of Origin II in Perth.
Blues coach Brad Fittler has had his critics for not giving playmaker Cody Walker another chance following their Origin I loss, opting to reunite James Maloney with Nathan Cleary for their must-win clash following Mitchell Pearce's last-minute injury.
But Walters believed Munster would be the name on everyone's lips by full-time in Sunday's clash, tipping the Melbourne star to snap up the title as NRL's No.1 pivot in his fifth Origin game.
"I think judging on what he has been doing in the NRL, certainly," he said.
"Has he played his best Origin game yet? No, he hasn't.
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"His best football is in front of him. He hasn't played his best Origin game yet, but it will be on Sunday night."
At just 24 Munster has emerged as a senior figure in a new-look Maroons side, narrowly missing out on the captaincy to halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans.
It caps a remarkable turnaround for Munster whose career hung in the balance not so long ago.
The five-eighth was sent home from the Kangaroos camp during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup for reportedly getting into a fight with teammate Ben Hunt.
The incident almost cost him his job at NRL club Melbourne.
Walters said Munster had come out of the dark period a better player and person.
"I like his character. Everyone does. He is a very colourful person and you often find that with great players," he said.
"They are different sort of characters. We will be back to the training paddock this week with Cameron and working on a few things in his game that will help him on Sunday."
Walters said Munster may have missed out on the captaincy but was a leader of a Maroons side entering a new era following the retirement of Billy Slater and Greg Inglis.
"They are tight knit our boys. They have come together really well," he said.
"That is one thing that I have enjoyed watching, is them all coming together as one Queensland team.
"We are very fortunate to have virtually the same team apart from the two new boys coming in and they have been around the team and the environment before."
Queensland only made two injury enforced changes for Origin II with forwards Jarrod Wallace and Tim Glasby coming in for Joe Ofahengaue (knee) and Jai Arrow (ankle).
