‘Easy decision’ for emotional Munster to play Origin
Scott Bailey |
An emotional Cameron Munster has revealed how he looked to the sky and asked his late father for energy, before leading Queensland to a State of Origin series win.
Four days after the sudden death of his father Stephen, Munster played an inspirational role in the Maroons’ series-deciding 24-12 win in Sydney.
The new Queensland captain said he never considered sitting out the game, believing his father would have told him to return to camp and play the decider.
Munster could be seen looking to the skies as he ran out onto Accor Stadium on Wednesday night, before tearfully hugging coach Billy Slater at fulltime.
“I just asked (dad) to use as much energy as he can. He hasn’t got a whole heap of energy. He was a big boy, so I needed 10 per cent of him,” Munster said afterwards.
“I love him, and I’ll obviously grieve and deal with what I have to deal with tomorrow and onwards.
“But I want to soak it up tonight, my family with the team.”
Munster said it had been an “easy decision” for him to play on Wednesday night, after leaving the Maroons camp on Sunday to fly home to Rockhampton.
The No.6 had not initially planned to fly home to be with his family, before Slater convinced him to do so after having also lost his father this year.
“I’m forever grateful for that,” Munster said.
“I wasn’t probably more leaning towards not doing it because I didn’t want to let Bill and all of Queensland down. But Bill told me I needed to go home.
“I knew straight away when I heard … dad would be stupid enough to tell me that there was more at stake (and to play).
“It was a decider, I was in camp the whole week. I knew the preparation.
“And it would have been a really tough job for Bill and the coaching staff, to put someone in and understand how the way we wanted to play.
“It was an easy … Queensland is everything to me.”
Slater lauded Munster’s effort after the Maroons’ 24-12 win, with Queensland close to faultless at Accor Stadium.
The Maroons’ series win came despite a game-one loss at home, resulting in the axing of Daly Cherry-Evans and Munster replacing him as captain.
“That’s as courageous and brave as I’ve ever seen,” Slater said of Munster’s effort.
“I lost my dad in January. I know what it’s like. I know how it feels. Our dads are our heroes. I don’t know how he did it.
“But within 10 minutes of sitting with him in his room on Sunday morning, he looked at me and he said, ‘Bill, I’m playing’.
“And I know he wanted to. I know his dad would have wanted him to. And, boy, that’s one proud dad sitting up there watching his boy tonight.”
AAP
