State of Origin: Cameron Munster avoids suspension, Moeaki Fotuaika faces one-week ban

He may have avoided a ban but questions continue to be asked whether Cameron Munster can control his emotions under pressure after an ugly incident in Origin I.

Cameron Munster has been hit with a grade one contrary charge. Picture: Adam Head

Cameron Munster has blasted suggestions he has an attitude problem in big games after the Maroons superstar escaped suspension for kicking out at Blues rookie Liam Martin in Queensland’s 50-6 Origin I debacle.

Munster was hit with a grade one contrary conduct charge by the NRL’s match review committee, but he can escape with a $1150 fine — clearing him to be available for Melbourne’s clash against the Warriors on Sunday.

The Martin incident has raised concerns over Munster’s state of mind in blockbuster matches, triggering flashbacks of his brain explosion in the 2018 NRL grand final when he was sin-binned twice, including once for kicking Roosters rival Joseph Manu.

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Cameron Munster was hit with a grade one contrary conduct charge. Picture: Adam Head

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But Munster defended his actions in the Origin opener, apologising to Martin and insisting he didn’t mean to inflict harm.

“To be honest, I didn’t think too much of it,” he said.

“I came off the field and a lot of people were talking about the incident and I said what incident?

“I had a look at it later.

“There was no malice in it, no dramas at all, I’m happy to go on live television and talk to him personally..

“He came out on the fifth tackle and tried to take me out and I didn’t like what he did. He got under my skin and being the competitor that I am, I didn’t like it, but it wasn’t a full kick. He got under my skin but I didn’t go out to hurt him.

“I’m sorry to Liam if he felt that way.”

Munster dismissed suggestions he can’t control his emotions under pressure.

“Not at all,” he said.

“I didn’t think about it (his NRL grand final brain snap) at all.

Munster didn’t have his customary impact on Wednesday night.

“I didn’t think was any malice in it.

“The coaching staff talked to me about it and I didn’t remember it.

“I didn’t think there was too much in it.

“The video doesn’t look good, but if I fully tried kicking him, he would be on the floor if someone tried a full swing kick. I just wanted to get him off me and I was a bit frustrated with my kick.

“I wouldn’t say I lashed out, it wasn’t a full kick to the stomach.”

Fellow Queenslander Moeaki Fotuaika is set to miss the Titans’ clash against the Roosters on Saturday. The Maroons prop faces a one-week ban after being hit with a grade-one dangerous contact charge for a late hit on Blues centre Latrell Mitchell.

Moeaki Fotuaika has been hit with a one-game ban.

Meanwhile, Maroons debutant Kyle Feldt faces a fine after copping a grade one dangerous contact charge for his shot on Cameron Murray that forced the Blues back-rower from the field.

Maroons fullback Valentine Holmes lamented Queensland’s worst perfomance in Origin history.

“I felt we tried to play too pretty,” he said.

“We tried to play around them too much, we need to get momentum through the middle and then try and play, it’s something we need to work on.

“It is what it is, with a score like that, everyone should be worried about their spot, we’ll see how it goes.

“The scoreline was a shock, we didn’t think it was going to be like that. The first 20 minutes, we were still in it, but then after that they got a few good calls, got some momentum, put on points and we couldn’t fight back.”