Munster’s half smart for Origin

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“I’d probably lean towards Munster being No.6 just being that it’s his debut game, it’s a decider and probably the easiest transition into this team for him would be at No.6 given he’s played all season there, he plays alongside Coops (Cooper Cronk) and Bill (Slater) and myself,” Smith said.

“Munster’s just a genuine footballer, he understands the game, he reads the ball well.”

While Munster says he has styled his game on Queensland great Darren Lockyer – who famously made the transition from fullback to fiveeighth – it is a pair of New South Welshman that could emerge as the most influential figures, with Adam O’Brien and Johns playing a huge part in Munster’s development.

O’Brien, the Storm assistant coach, has taken Munster under his wing in Melbourne, while the club sent Munster to Sydney several times in the pre-season for individual training with Johns.

“Our assistant coach Adam O’Brien has helped me out heaps doing little drills and stuff at training but also Matty Johns has come and helped us out as well,” he said.

“I went to Sydney a couple of times during the year around pre-season time and just worked on some fundamentals and that’s what shaped me at the start of the year. I still talk to Matty every now and then.

“The stuff that he’s taught me is really working well at the moment.”

Munster was one of several players banned from selection last year after breaking curfew in Emerging Origin camp.