Congratulations, Cameron Munster, you’re now the most hated man in NSW
For over a decade we cursed a Queenslander named Cameron. Now another one is haunting us. Cam Munster is so good he’s announced himself as the new Public Enemy No.1 south of the border.
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Geez, Cameron Munster is becoming easy to hate. Just like Cameron Smith was for so bloody long.And before that, Wally Lewis.
Which isn’t a slight on the Queensland No.6.
Put simply, he’s just that good.
In fact, on a night where NSW were expected to start a Bold New Era, it was Munster who undeniably announced himself as the new Public Enemy No.1 south of the border.
And not just for the 2019 Origin series, either.
But most likely for years. Perhaps, forever.
And with good reason, too.
Understanding that almost every time the Maroons threatened in this one, Munster’s fingerprints were on it. Or bootlaces. Something.
The Rockhampton 24-year-old in everything bar the halftime entertainment.
Breaking the Blues defence?
Yep, Munster did it multiple times.
Stepped us.
Passed around us. Kicked through us.
All of it.
Honestly, even when this Maroons villain seemed to have erred, he managed to prove a hero for his State.
Like in the first half when, having fumbled a kick in goal, it seemed that Blues James Tedesco and Tyson Frizell had nothing left to do but argue who would ground the Steeden first. But then ... nup.
Munster somehow reaching a loose arm back, as he laid out in the in-goal, to ground the ball. Which is tough to accept for Blues fans.
Indeed, having only just farewelled the likes of Smith, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston, the Blues are now confronted with a Maroons playmaker so imposing over the opening 40 minutes, NSW coach Brad Fittler delivered the simplest of messages to his team at the break: Stop Munster.
But how does anyone do that?
The task akin to predicting which way your backyard garden hose will twist next when pumped full of water and nobody holding it.
Not only on the left edge, either.
But the right, too. Where several times Munster seemed to have put centre Will Chambers away.
And where Blues winger Josh Addo-Carr not the game’s fastest player, the Maroons would’ve got at least a couple of tries.
But then in the second stanza, well, they got them anyway.
Like early in the second half, when Ponga threw that beautiful long ball to find winger Corey Oates.
In the first half, milliseconds before diving over in the corner, Oates right boot had touched the sideline. No try. But this time? No drama.
Then with 69 minutes gone, defending his own tryline, Maroons centre Dane Gagai intercepted a Jack Wighton pass - and away.
Shortly after, crossing over at the opposite end of the field.
And from there?
Then it was Ponga again.
This time, the Maroons No.1 throwing, or firing, another of those long, cut out passes which again found Gagai.
After a quietish first half, the young Novocastrian had come to life.
Creating the type of plays that had all of NSW hating him, too.
And like Munster, not for the last time.
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