Reece Walsh on standby to replace Cameron Munster in State of Origin decider
Billy Slater will resist issuing an ‘SOS’ from outside Queensland’s Game III squad, with the side’s 18th man on standby to replace Maroons captain Cameron Munster for the Origin decider.
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Broncos star Reece Walsh is on standby to replace Queensland captain Cameron Munster in Wednesday’s Origin series decider after Brisbane teammate Ezra Mam wasn’t issued an ‘SOS’.
Munster is expected to take his place in Queensland’s No.6 jersey at Accor Stadium following the sudden death of his father Steven Munster at the weekend.
Munster was given leave from Camp Maroon on Sunday to be with his devastated family in Central Queensland.
The Maroons flew to Sydney on Monday and Munster is expected to reunite with his teammates on Tuesday before their captain’s run at Accor that afternoon.
There is no suggestion Munster will withdraw from the game, however the Maroons have a contingency plan in place in case the situation changes.
Walsh, in the team as 18th man, trained at five-eighth in Munster’s absence in Queensland’s final big session on Sunday.
A left-footed kicker like Munster, Walsh is comfortable on the left side of the field despite fullback being his preferred position.
His Broncos teammate Mam was Queensland’s 18th man in Game Two, however on Monday he had not received a call-up to join the Maroons.
Mam trained with his Brisbane teammates at Red Hill on Monday morning ahead of Sunday’s NRL clash with the Titans on the Gold Coast.
That would indicate Queensland coach Billy Slater has no doubts Munster will play – but he has to be prepared for the unexpected.
“There are plenty of possibilities you could go through but you could be wasting energy thinking about that or putting that in place,” Queensland hooker Harry Grant said.
“The coaches will have their understanding and will have those conversations but for us as a playing group we don’t need to be taking our heads there too much.
“It doesn’t cause any (disruption to our preparation). It’s a real reminder that this is just a game and as much as we love it there is more to life than rugby league.”
The Maroons are expecting Munster to join them for a final light run on Tuesday afternoon.
However his combination with new halfback Tom Dearden looked promising in Queensland’s Game Two win and Munster is under no pressure to rush back into camp.
“If he can make it back, and him and his family have made that decision, and Cam’s okay to travel south, then he’ll make captain’s run,” Grant said.
“We’ve got training late Tuesday arvo which gives him every chance to spend as much time with the family as he can.
“He’s captain of the Maroons and we love him as a teammate and bloke.
“You saw what he did in game two.”
Munster’s Melbourne teammate and Storm skipper Grant would be the logical captain for Queensland if Munster doesn’t play.
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Originally published as Reece Walsh on standby to replace Cameron Munster in State of Origin decider
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