State of Origin 2018: Maroons five-eighth Cameron Munster says no bad blood with Kangaroos teammate Ben Hunt

QUEENSLAND’S halves combination will have to work together for the first time since they came to blows during a boozy night with the Kangaroos — but Cameron Munster says his scrap with Ben Hunt was just “banter”.

Munster played down any tension with Ben Hunt. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

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MAROONS five-eighth Cameron Munster has smoked the peace pipe with Ben Hunt and insists their Darwin punch-up won’t crush Queensland’s tilt for a fourth straight Origin series.

Munster and Hunt will combine at Queensland’s scrumbase for the first time in Wednesday week’s series opener at the MCG when they replace retired Maroons legends Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk.

The dynamic duo debuted together in last year’s decider, Munster deputising in emphatic fashion for the injured Thurston in the No. 6 while Hunt cut his teeth as a bench utility.

Munster played down any tension with Ben Hunt. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Coach Kevin Walters will lean on the in-form playmakers to guide Queensland into a new era following the representative retirements of the state’s long-term halves and skipper Cameron Smith.

That means Hunt and Munster will have to work intimately for the first time since last year’s World Cup where they came to blows during a boozy night with the Kangaroos.

The “Top End Tiff” prompted Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga to send Munster home for a meeting with Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy.

The 23-year-old has responded with a sensational start to the NRL season and said he had settled his differences with Hunt.

“It was a bit of banter,” Munster told The Courier-Mail. “It was all hyped up too much. We are past it, we are still friends.

“We had a chat after the (Storm-Dragons) game and a laugh about it all. I’m really liking the way he is playing his footy. He is killing it.

“He is the form player of the competition. If he keeps that form going he will have a great (Origin) career.”

Bit of a punch-up … Top bantz. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Munster’s World Cup issues prompted him to quit heavy drinking and he said a new approach to football had catapulted him into Thurston’s famous No. 6 jersey.

“Last year my foot was half in and half out of footy,” he said.

“I was enjoying footy and enjoying life. I’m more focused with footy this year and I’m happy with my performances.

“I realised how fortunate I am to be playing footy. I needed to grow up. I’ve almost burnt a lot of bridges with the club that I’m at.

“A lot of people were probably off me, especially the leadership group. I was saying a lot of things but not doing them with my actions.”

Munster admits his eye was off the ball last year. (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Walters had a smorgasbord of playmaking talent to choose from, overlooking the likes of Daly Cherry-Evans, Anthony Milford and Ash Taylor to give Hunt and Munster first crack.

Queensland selection boss Gene Miles said it was now up to the in-form playmakers to make the jerseys their own.

“They have a perfect opportunity right here and now and they would be crazy to not grab that opportunity,” he said.

“I am excited about the seven and six. We’ve lost 100-odd State of Origin games of experience so hopefully these two can settle on being our halves for the next five or six years.

“They have to step up and do it. There’s is no JT, no Cronk and no Smith. The day was always going to come.

“The spine is so important these days so we just hope they grab it with both hands.”

Walters said he was certain Munster and Hunt could form a slick combination like Thurston and Cronk.

“They’re both natural footballers,” he said.

“I know they are going to gel well together on and off the field.

“It’s very exciting for Queenslanders to get this sort of combination for Game One.”

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Originally published as State of Origin 2018: Maroons five-eighth Cameron Munster says no bad blood with Kangaroos teammate Ben Hunt