Maroons Origin selection hinges on Storm form: Munster
Melissa Woods |
Melbourne talisman Cameron Munster’s priority is keeping the Storm in the winners’ circle and says State of Origin selection will take care of itself.
Munster emphatically answered critics calling for his axing as Queensland skipper by scoring two tries as the Storm ended their seven-game losing streak with a 44-16 win over Wests Tigers.
The 31-year-old has long been a barometer for Melbourne and they looked back to their glory days in the eight-try romp at AAMI Park.
While the Storm remain way down the NRL ladder, Munster says he hasn’t given up on making the top eight, with his side’s next task taking on Parramatta at Magic Round.
“It’s all good and well – it’s been one game and we’ve got what we wanted to get out of today, but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t back it up next week,” the 31-year-old said.
“There’s a challenge ahead of us and there’s no better team, no better players around me to get it going and if we can make the eight, we can give it a shake.”
The Queensland Origin team will be named on the Monday following Magic Round and Munster says he hasn’t spoken to Maroons coach Billy Slater about his selection plans.
“No, I don’t really talk to Bill about selection – I’ve got to worry about my own backyard and it’ll take care of itself,” the Kangaroos playmaker said.
“If I play back-to-back good games and with consistency, and then see how I put my front foot forward.”
Munster’s return to form is even more valuable with his Queensland halves partner Tom Dearden undergoing surgery after a syndesmosis injury and set to miss the Maroons’ trophy defence.
“I know it’s not ideal with Tommy (Dearden) at the moment, so I’m pretty disappointed for him as he’s been playing some good footy and it’s going to be a big loss, but whoever’s in the spine … I’m sure they’ll get the job done.
“There’s some great guys that can play that position, DCE (Daly Chery-Evans), (Jake) Clifford, Sammy Walker, Jamal Fogarty so I’m sure Bill’s not short of suitors.”
Storm skipper and Queensland teammate Harry Grant said Munster was his own harshest critic and that he enjoyed seeing the No.6 reaping rewards, with his two tries breaking a year-long drought.
“He really demands a lot from himself and I think sometimes he really tries to bring other people into the game, where sometimes Cam Munster is the strength of the team,” Grant said.
“He’s the ultimate competitor and I think he’s (been) just that over the last little bit, and I think in the game we had some people inside and outside that got their roles done and that really helped him play his game and perform to the level that we know he can.
“People are pretty quick to jump to criticism. He knows how good he is and we’ve got to just keep reminding him of that.”
AAP