Munster hungry to steer the ship

CAMERON Munster has put the Blues on notice by declaring he wants to “own” State of Origin and dominate for Queensland in the vein of Maroons legends Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer.

The injury-ravaged Maroons are banking on the biggame brilliance of Munster to spearhead a Queensland boilover in the Origin series opener on Wednesday night at Adelaide Oval.

Munster (pictured) has played four grand finals, won two premierships and was a squad member of Australia‘s 2017 World

Cup win, but the pivot has yet to be a fully fledged member of a series-winning Maroons outfit. The last time Queensland won a series in 2017, Munster was an Origin novice, playing just one game in that series, albeit a sublime debut as he helped the Maroons to a 22-6 victory in the decider at Suncorp Stadium.

But now, in his eighth game as one of the most important players in the Queensland setup, Munster is motivated by orchestrating a new era of Origin dominance for the Maroons.

The Rockhampton product remains in awe of the greatness of Lewis and Lockyer in the Queensland No.6 jumper and at 26, Munster says the time is right to stamp his mark on the Origin arena.

“I just need to make sure I own Origin,” Munster said. “I’ve been in the NRL for seven years now and I want to make the most of my time around the game. I’ve never won a series over three games, so I’m really excited this time and there wouldn’t be anything better than winning this Origin series with the crop of young players we have.

“People think we can’t win without the Big Three (retired Queensland legends Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater).

“I want to be able to say I won an Origin series without those guys.”

Underlining Munster’s passion for the Queensland jumper, he is refusing to withdraw due to injury and will carry an ongoing knee problem into Game One.

Munster required three needles to get through last Sunday week’s grand final against the Panthers, but the classy playmaker is adamant the injury, which has plagued him for five months, will not stop him attacking the NSW line.

Queensland coach Wayne Bennett believes Munster is the side’s X-factor.

“I think very highly of him as a player and he has been great to have in camp here,” Bennett said.