Wally Lewis anoints Cameron Munster his successor as ‘King’

Wally Lewis won’t be abdicating his position as The King of Suncorp Stadium anytime soon. But he knows who should take the mantle.

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King Wally Lewis has anointed his successor, saying Origin five-eighth Cameron Munster is “as good as any footballer I’ve ever seen”.

The rugby league Immortal’s words at the Queensland Maroons’ Long Lunch on Tuesday stunned the usually talkative Munster into silence.

Lewis and Munster shared the stage at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, where they were interviewed by The Courier-Mail’s chief sports writer Robert “Crash” Craddock.

“He’s as good as any footballer I’ve ever seen,” Lewis said to applause from the crowd.

“And for the Queenslanders to have him on side is a bonus.”

Munster was stunned.

“I’m lost for words, I’m never usually lost for words, they’re very special comments,” Munster said.

“I am pretty excited and pretty happy with those comments, but I think he’s trying to be nice and trying to pump my tyres up ahead of (next) Wednesday.”

Meanwhile, Maroons coach Billy Slater backed Origin bolter Robert Toia to take it to Blues superstar Latrell Mitchell in the highly anticipated three-game series, which begins next Wednesday at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

“He’s a real weapon out there for us and he’s a wonderful player, he just needs to be himself,” Slater said of the 10-game NRL player.

‘The King’ Wally Lewis has nominated Cameron Munster as the Maroon most likely to assume his title. Picture: Nigel Hallett

When it was put to Slater by sports presenter Alissa Smith that Toia will be coming up against Mitchell, and “that’s a pretty big job”, the Dally M medallist made a bold declaration.

“Latrell Mitchell will be coming up against him too,” he said.

The importance of the rugby league system in regional Queensland as a breeding ground for talent was also highlighted at the function.

The critical need to support rugby league in the regions has seen the Queensland Rugby League, in partnership with The Courier-Mail, create the Maroons Foundation as part of a multimillion-dollar plan to invest in the sport’s grassroots.

In an interview with The Courier-Mail editor Chris Jones, QRL CEO Ben Ikin emphasised the importance of regional Queensland to the game.

“This game that people love strengthens communities all across the state,” he said.

“How much this game and team means to those people like you’ve got no idea how obsessed Queensland is, particularly in the regional and remote areas, about the Maroons.

“This foundation is about raising money to make the game more accessible for those that can’t do it in the way that our heroes do.”

Queensland fans have the chance to get behind the Maroons and get inside the Suncorp Stadium sheds by donating $10 to the Maroons Foundation to have their name put up on a placard in the dressing room as part of the Your Name in Maroon campaign.

Wally Lewis is The King of Suncorp Stadium

Originally published as Wally Lewis anoints Cameron Munster his successor as ‘King’