Cameron Munster’s brilliant debut shows bright future for Maroons wrap up

IN the space of 80 minutes, Cameron Munster showed why Kevin Walters has so much faith in the next generation for the Maroons.

Maroons five-eighth Cameron Munster takes on the Blues defence.

SAYING goodbye to Johnathan Thurston was never going to be easy for Queensland. But Cameron Munster proved that it won’t be the end of the world.

There is certainly life after JT.

Wearing the coveted No. 6 jersey, the young playmaker took to Suncorp Stadium and in the space of 80 minutes, he showed why Kevin Walters has so much faith in the next generation for the Maroons.

In a stunning performance in front of a record 52,540-strong crowd, Munster made the kind of State of Origin debut that most players only ever dream of.

If you did not know that the Storm maestro was playing his first ever game for Queensland on Wednesday night, then you certainly would not have guessed it.

Everything he did was seamless.

Maroons five-eighth Cameron Munster takes on the Blues defence.

From playing a hand in Valentine Holmes’ opening try to throwing the last pass for Jarrod Wallace to seal the deal in the 66th minute, it looked like he had been wearing maroon for years.

Munster was everywhere and was unstoppable.

The boy from Rockhampton’s cool, calm and collected approach was a nightmare for a Blues team that simply did not know where to turn.

They couldn’t outmuscle him. He never looked like he was going to be overawed by the occasion.

Skipper Cameron Smith campaigned hard for Munster to wear the No. 6 jersey in the decider and it was a push that proved to be a major success for the Maroons, leading them to an incredible 11th series win from the last 12 years.

Valentine Holmes scores a try for the Maroons. Picture: Adam Head

It was also evident that halfback Cooper Cronk trusted Munster to take over when need be, sharing plenty of the kicking duties, which is something he appeared to struggle with in Game One when it came to Anthony Milford.

But the real strength was his running game.

He made 122m from 11 runs and five tackle busts.

The most stunning display of this came in the 59th minute when he broke past Blues skipper Boyd Cordner and halfback Mitchell Pearce to put Holmes over for his third try of the night.

It is fair to say, Queensland may have found their next long-term No.6.

Welcome to Origin, Cameron Munster.