Ricky Ponting could be model for Cameron Munster as Maroons captain
Queensland is planning to turn its back on Cameron Munster as an Origin leader yet one of Australia’s greatest success stories is proof his appointment could be a masterstroke, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.
Opinion
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To explore the full case for Cameron Munster to be Queensland State of Origin captain we need to go to a dark corner of the notorious Bourbon and Beefsteak Bar in Kings Cross.
Not for one of Munster’s indiscretions but to the day, 20 years ago, when Ricky Ponting was knocked out after being involved in a fight which followed a big drinking session.
That incident, we thought, was “it’’ for Ponting as a future team leader.
One sin too many in a potentially brilliant career drifting badly off the rails.
When a sheepish Ponting, black eye and all, told of his shame, I remember talking to an Australian official who said “the boys love Ricky and he is mischievous rather than nasty, but he will never captain Australia’’.
You could have said exactly the same about Munster when he was quietly sent home to Melbourne by coach Mal Meninga midway through the last World Cup.
Ponting came back and led Australia in 77 Tests — and so can Munster rise as a leader despite the fact that he has at times been far too loose for his own good.
Sometimes the best captains are the ones who have knocked around a bit, stumbled badly and fallen and got up again.
They know all about life’s pitfalls because they have been that person, like Munster, who had to sit down with Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy and listen to chastening lines like: “If I didn’t like you, you’d be out the door’’.
And, even worse, listen to his distressed mother suggest he change his last name.
Arthur Beetson was no saint. Nor was Ian Chappell, Allan Langer or English cricket skipper Michael Vaughan.
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But their players would do anything for them and in the end that’s what matters most.
Munster is apparently not in the first three leadership options for the Queensland side in State of Origin with Daly Cherry-Evans, Michael Morgan and Matt Gillett rated ahead of him.
These are the selectors speaking, not the fans.
In a survey of more than 1000 fans on The Courier-Mail website Munster is just ahead of Cherry-Evans as the top pick.
Significantly, the people closest to Munster are the ones most cautious about supporting him as skipper.
Cameron Smith, Munster’s Storm captain who has seen his rise from boy to man — and that is what he is at age 24 — could not bring himself to endorse Munster.
If you were debating reasons for and against Munster getting the vote, the “against’’ would probably win, but the State of Origin cauldron is not a debating room.
It’s about finding a leader, who when the game is on the line, somehow finds a spirit and a zest for the contest which lifts the men around him.
Munster is that man and if he misses out this year surely he will get there eventually.
Originally published as Ricky Ponting could be model for Cameron Munster as Maroons captain
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