Cameron Munster says he’ll never let Queensland down again after Emerging Maroons fiasco

NEWLY re-signed Melbourne fullback Cameron Munster has proclaimed he will never let Queensland down again following the Emerging Origin fiasco.

Munster has again filled in well for Billy Slater.

CAMERON Munster has vowed to never let Queensland down again after admitting his Emerging Origin antics cost him any chance of a maiden Maroons jumper.

On Wednesday Munster inked a $1.6 million upgrade to remain in Melbourne until the end of 2019 in a major coup for the Storm ahead of Saturday night’s clash against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.

It was the very ground on which Munster hoped to appear in Queensland colours this season, until the infamous curfew breach in January which saw him slapped with a 12-month Origin ban.

Munster faces the Cowboys this Saturday night steeled by a heart-to-heart with Storm and Maroons skipper Cameron Smith, who gave the young gun a candid insight into the values that drive the Queensland team.

“I was a small chance of playing for Queensland this year but I stuffed up and threw away that jersey,” Munster said last night.

“You never know when your time might come up again, but it was my fault and I have to live with that.

“It was a poor decision from me and if I could take it back, I would for sure.

“To be honest, it’s been in the back of my mind to play well this year and make amends for it.

“I had a good chat with Cam Smith, he is the Queensland and Australian captain and he said, ‘Cameron, I’m disappointed in what you’ve done’.

“Usually when I make a mistake, I don’t make the same mistake again.

“I’ve let a lot of Queensland staff and players down. Guys like Cam Smith wear the jersey with a lot of pride. I was a bit silly that night, but I have taken it on the chin and I’m trying to move forward by playing well for the Storm.

“Hopefully, I can play for Queensland one day.”

Munster has been in superb form so far this season.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy emerged as the trump card in Munster’s retention. The 21-year-old briefly considered the prospect of testing his value on the open market, but when Bellamy agreed to remain until the end of 2018, Munster kept the faith.

“The Storm were very patient through this process, they gave Cameron the space he needed to make a decision,” said his agent Shaun Pyne.

“In reality, it took longer than we needed it to but at no stage did he want to leave Melbourne.

“Cameron wanted some clarification around Craig Bellamy and Cam Smith and whether they would stay on. But when Craig made it clear he was there for another few years, Cameron was happy to pledge his future to the club.”

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With Munster now tied to Melbourne, the Maroons aspirant hopes veteran halfback Cooper Cronk will follow suit and finish his career at the Storm.

“I’m really hoping Cooper now stays as well,” Munster said.

“He is one of the best halfbacks in the world and hopefully if stays here we can have a good crack at winning the comp in the next few years.

“I’m not 100 per cent sure what Cooper will do, but hopefully he becomes a one-club man like Cameron Smith and Billy Slater.

“The club has done a lot for him so I’m sure he will give the same respect back to the Storm.

“It would surprise me if he left but I guess it’s none of my business, it’s up to him and his manager. I would love for him to stay but if he doesn’t, we have to accept his call and move on.”

Originally published as Cameron Munster says he’ll never let Queensland down again after Emerging Maroons fiasco