2024 State of Origin launch: Billy Slater backs Cameron Munster’s injury return, Blues selection moves

Queensland coach Billy Slater holds no fitness fears for key playmaker Cameron Munsters ahead of the 2024 State of Origin opener, but has a ready-made replacement on hand.

NSW Blues head coach Michael Maguire and QLD Maroons head coach Billy Slater. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Maroons star Harry Grant is adamant his Melbourne Storm teammate Cam Munster’s injury is not holding him back as Queensland coach Billy Slater declared he held no State of Origin fears for the key playmaker.

As this year’s State of Origin series was launched at the MCG on Tuesday, Slater backed Munster to overcome his injury issue for the campaign against the Blues but conceded the superstar’s groin complaint was something he would have to continue to manage.

Munster, the incumbent Queensland five-eighth, has battled a pre-season groin injury which sidelined him until round four of the NRL regular season.

That sparked early concerns he would not be fit for Origin, with the potential for Queensland to slot in reigning Dally M Medallist Kalyn Ponga into the halves, alongside captain Daly Cherry-Evans.

As Grant hailed the big plays of Munster as critical for the Maroons’ campaign, Slater said everything he had seen of the Storm star so far since his return indicated he was as “energetic” as he could be and would again be an integral part of Queensland’s attack.

“He is going all right. I have had a similar injury and it can be tough at times, it can be painful, but it doesn’t seem to be hindering his performance,” Slater said at the MCG.

“Every time that I have seen him train, he has been as energetic and as Cameron Munster as he can be, if that makes sense.

State of Origin coaches Billy Slater and Michael Maguire with the shield. Picture: Mark Stewart

“It’s going to be an ongoing thing for him. These sorts of things don’t just heal over a couple of weeks, he is going to have to manage it, but he is not the only one in the competition managing an injury.

“Some we know about and some we don’t know about. This one is just well publicised.

“He’s been an integral part of the Queensland State of Origin years for a number of years, even before my time as coach.

“He’s a really important part of what this team is about but at the same time, it will be what it will be and that’s why it’s important to keep your powder dry until 40 days time when we have to sit down and see who is available.”

As the combatants marked 50 days until the start of this year’s Origin campaign at the MCG, which will host game two of the series in June, Storm captain Grant said Munster was not playing and training like he was being impeded by injury.

Grant added Munster had established himself as one of the “great Queenslanders” in Origin and would be critical to this year’s battle with the Blues.

“To be honest once he got himself back on the field and playing games I haven’t seen any difference in the way that he prepares for games or the way that he has played the last couple of weeks,” Grant said.

“So you know what Munster is like, I don’t think that injury is holding him back.

“(He is) so important. He is Queensland through and through. A lot of people see the big plays he comes up with when the game is on the line you want the ball in his hands.

“But I think it is all the little effort areas that he puts in week in, week out that makes him an Origin player and he has done it consistently for a number of years now and he will go down in the books as potentially one of the great Queenslanders to play for Queensland.”

MAROONS’ MCG HOODOO

While Slater will be aiming for three straight series wins in as many years at the helm, a fit Munster is critical to the Maroons’ bid to turn around its MCG hoodoo.

The Blues hold a 4-1 advantage in Melbourne, having won the first ever match in the city 30 years ago, as Origin returns to the MCG for the first time since 2018.

Blues coach Michael Maguire will face off against Slater for the first time after replacing Brad Fittler as coach after last year’s series.

Maguire was not concerned with questions over Munster’s fitness, instead focusing on what the Blues need to do to regain Origin supremacy.

“He’s always an influence, but I’ve got to say I’m really concentrating on what we are doing to be honest,” Maguire said.

“We’ve seen them play for such a long period of time, it’s about getting things right for us.”

Maroons hooker Harry Grant. Picture: Mark Stewart

MAGUIRE’S PAPENHUYZEN

NSW coach Michael Maguire has revealed Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen is “well and truly” in his sights for a State of Origin call-up after overcoming a horror run with injury.

The new Blues mentor will go to the selection table with an “open mind”, and there could be a new-look side given he is unburdened by loyalty to the incumbent players from last year’s 2-1 series defeat.

And one of the key calls Maguire will need to make is around the crucial bench utility role.

Last year Brad Fittler used Nicho Hynes in Origin I, before calling up Reece Robson for games two and three as he deployed a two-hooker rotation.

Papenhuyzen was on the cusp of an Origin call-up in 2022 before injury cost him the better part of two seasons.

However, he has made a successful return to the field this year from a badly broken ankle, with his performances putting Maguire on notice.

Ryan Papenhuyzen has stormed into Blues contention. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

“I sort of left Paps alone I guess earlier in the year because he just wanted to get himself back and playing,” Maguire said.

“It’s a great credit to see what he’s been able to do and achieve with everything that he has been through.

“(When) a player comes back in that way says a lot about a person and he’s playing some really good footy at the moment.”

Grant praised Papenhuyzen’s resilience and felt his teammate’s best was still ahead of him.

“A credit to him for the way that he has bounced back from the last couple of injuries he has had and that’s just the type of person and the character he is,” Grant said.

“I still think that we haven’t seen the best of him, so as a footy fan and as a teammate that’s pretty exciting.”

80-MINUTE GRANT

Pressed on his own Origin role and whether he could see himself playing the full 80 minutes for the Maroons, Grant said he was happy to play whatever role the team needed of him.

“I just want to be there,” Grant said.

“It’s just about what the team looks like at that period of time, but it’s a long way away so I’m not looking too far ahead. It’s just more play my role for the Storm now and hopefully build some good habits to put myself in a picture where I can be there throughout Origin.”

Originally published as 2024 State of Origin launch: Billy Slater backs Cameron Munster’s injury return, Blues selection moves