Brad Fittler hopes a good dose of defence can limit Cam Munster’s offence in Origin

NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler has set out how he plans to take one of the Maroons most dangerous attacking weapons, playmaker Cameron Munster, out of the game.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — JUNE 24: Cameron Munster of the Maroons is tackled during game two of the State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on June 24, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler has made plain one of his game-plan musts against Queensland — make Cameron Munster work hard in defence.

After eight rounds, Munster’s 22 tackles per game was a much higher tally than the weekly workload inflicted on Luke Keary, the Roosters five-eighth who may make his debut for NSW this year.

NSW coach Brad Fittler has a plan to shutdown Cameron Munster in Origin. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Munster, a certain selection at No. 6 when the Maroons team is named in two weeks, scored two tries against the Eels and also contributed two try assists and two line breaks.

“When he gets the ball there is no game plan. Everyone just says ‘whoah, let’s follow him and see what happens’,” Fittler said on Channel 9.

Cameron Munster and the Storm hammered the Eels on Saturday night of Magic Round. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

“He’s jumping over blokes, side stepping off his left foot, running backwards, he does anything to create something.

“The majority of your (NSW’s) game plan is based around him.

“You need to put your best players running at him. If he is fit and healthy coming down to the last 10 minutes that’s a tough ask. If he has plenty of energy he is so hard to tackle.”

PI CK DCE NOT MUNSTER AS QLD CAPTAIN: COYNE

Queensland great Mark Coyne believes Cameron Munster must not be Maroons skipper, saying the role may blunt the Melbourne star’s attacking brilliance. NSW coach Brad Fittler admitted on Sunday that Munster had him concerned ahead of next month’s State of Origin series opener after witnessing the Storm pivot tear Parramatta apart on Saturday night.

Munster made 10 tackle busts, ran 107m and set up two of Melbourne’s 11 tries in their 64-10 NRL Magic Round rout at Suncorp Stadium.

Daly Cherry-Evans is the man who should captain the Maroons according to Mark Coyne. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Queensland coach Kevin Walters is mulling over who to make Maroons captain following Greg Inglis’ retirement, saying Munster and Manly skipper Daly Cherry- Evans are leading contenders.

Coyne — a veteran of 19 Origins for Queensland — had no doubt it should be Cherry-Evans.

“I don’t know about making (Munster) captain of the Queensland team. If you give someone the captaincy it can somewhat change your game a little bit,” Coyne told Channel 9.

“I think he is such a spontaneous player you have to just let him go out there and play.

“The responsibility of the captaincy might take a bit away from him.” Coyne said Cherry-Evans was the right man and he appeared on track to return from an ankle injury ahead of Origin I in Brisbane on June 5. “I think DCE (should be captain) if he is available. I had a chat with him during the week and he is pretty confident he will be right for Origin,” Coyne said.