Long way to go: Maroons’ new ‘King’ not yet satisfied

The Blues went into Game I as favourite, but on the back of some Cameron Munster magic, the Maroons managed to hold on for a 16-10 lead.NSW are once again favourites, but have made several changes to their squad, while the Maroons are mostly the same.Who will come out on top?Who will win State of Origin Game II?Stream the FOX LEAGUE State of Origin Game 2 REPLAY on Kayo with no ads during-play. Both full and condensed replays available from 10:45PM AEST Sunday. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >10:30amHe has been compared to “The King” Wally Lewis, but Cameron Munster isn’t satisfied with his Origin highlights reel and has challenged the Maroons to produce a proper ‘Queenslander’ performance to win back the shield.Munster does not just want to replicate his Origin I heroics, where he was crowned man-of-the-match in Queensland’s 16-10 victory against NSW in Sydney.He wants to go to another level at Perth’s Optus Stadium and clinch a series win within two games – just like the Blues did last year to embarrass Queensland.“I hope there’s more, that would be ideal,” Munster said when asked if he had peaked as an Origin player.“I’ve been very lucky in certain moments of big games but I’ve also had some low moments in big games as well.“It would be nice to put the cherry on top (tonight), but there is a lot of hard work that we have to get right. Hopefully we can go up another gear.”Much like Maroons legend Lewis – regarded as the greatest Origin player of all time – Munster has quickly become the new king of State of Origin.He burst into the Origin arena with a stunning debut for Queensland in 2017 and won the Wally Lewis Medal as player-of-the-series in 2020.Now 27, Munster is in the prime of his career, as evidenced by his dismantling of NSW in Game One at Accor Stadium to give Queensland a 1-nil series lead.But he isn’t content. The scars of last year’s horror series, where the Maroons surrendered the Origin shield within two embarrassing games, are still fresh in Munster’s mind and he wants redemption in Perth.“We are just hardworking Queensland battlers who want to go out there and play proud for our state,” he said.“Last year wasn’t ideal. It wasn’t a Queensland performance. There’s obviously a winner and loser, but there was a difference between their style of footy and ours.“There was no real ‘Queenslander’ material. It’s not over until the fat lady sings and I feel like we toppled over around that 50-60-minute mark in most games. That’s not us.“We always work hard until the last minute and the last series wasn’t good enough for us.”Heading into his 15th appearance for the Maroons, Munster is now an established Origin player and Queensland’s biggest threat.But he insists he is nowhere near the great Lewis – who won a record eight man-of-the-match awards during a glittering 34-game Origin career.“There is no one better than Wally Lewis – Wally is the king forever,” Munster said.“He had eight man-of-the-match performances which is why the medal is named after him. He did a lot of things right when he played for Queensland and that’s why he’s so loved.“To be mentioned is great, but I’ve done nothing like him. He’s done a lot more than I’ve done in my career.“He is the king of Queensland and always will be. There is only one Wally Lewis. We’ve had greats like Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer in the six jersey as well. “I can just go out there and do my job for Queensland. I don’t want to be pumping my tyres up too much.“It was a good performance, but it was only one. We’ve still got two more games and I want to make sure I play consistently for both.”NED-6512-State-of-origin-game-2-team-listsAfter being overlooked by numerous scouts as a schoolboy in Rockhampton, Munster has developed into one of the NRL’s superstar players with the Melbourne Storm.A jovial character who entered rehabilitation last year to treat alcohol and gambling issues, Munster is a unique talent whose unpredictability makes him a near unstoppable force at times.But it’s his personality that makes him such a dangerous player, according to super coach Wayne Bennett who worked with Munster in Queensland’s 2020 miracle series win.“Cameron has always been a wonderful player,” Bennett said.“He was great for us in the 2020 series and he had a tough year last year, but he has always been in the top category of players.“Cameron has never been perfect. It’s been a part of his journey. In the World Cup in 2017, he got sent home from Darwin because of an off-field incident, so that’s been part of Cameron’s make up.“But the one thing I like about Cameron is his football knowledge and he is the extreme competitor.“I get on so well with Cameron because there is no agendas with him. He is who he is. He just wants to win every time and that’s his great strength.“The night we won the series (2020) he was at his absolute best. I just let Cameron go out and play footy. There was no set plans. I didn’t fill his head with anything. I just asked him to play the way he plays and he played what was in front of him with joy. “I found him a pleasure to coach. There is nothing complex about him. He loves being part of a team and making a contribution.”While Queensland is blessed with talent, it is hard to see the Maroons winning in Perth if Munster does not fire.Bennett, 72, has seen it all during a 40-year coaching career and reckons Munster has attributes like 34 – game Queensland great Allan “Alfie” Langer.“He’s not short of natural talent. All the great players have those great qualities,” he said.“Allan Langer did things other players couldn’t do and that’s what Cameron Munster does. He breaks tackles that don’t look like they can be broken, but he comes out the other side. “He has that larrikin nature but what I like first and foremost is his fierce competitive nature. Alfie liked a joke but he was a fierce competitor.“Cameron just hates losing and it’s what allows him to play the way he does in Origin. He never wants to come second. All the great players have it in their DNA, they don’t want their opponent putting one over them. “Cameron, like many great players, can have fun off the field and have the odd issue, but they always deliver on the field.“Cameron means well. He is a good person. He is not a guy who has done horrible things to anyone else.”Except maybe to the Blues on the scoreboard in Perth tonight, if he has his way.State of Origin Guide Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au