2020 Wally Lewis Medallist Cameron Munster has failed to recapture his best form for Queensland in the current State of Origin series.
Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans haven’t been at their peak with Queensland scoring only one try across Game I and II as New South Wales continue to dominate both offensively and defensively.
While a lack of threat from the halves has handcuffed the Maroons, rugby league great Cameron Smith thinks Munster’s drop off in performance isn’t all his fault.
“Even the best players struggle when they’re not playing with field position or without momentum,” Smith said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“That’s what the Queenslanders have struggled with in the first two matches, New South Wales have done such a good job defensively.
“He hasn’t had the series all Queenslanders hoped Cameron would have, but you’ve got to remember he came into that first game without playing any (NRL) match in five weeks.
“I’m not making excuses for Cameron or Queensland here, but he’s underdone. Compare that to last year a really solid year and came off the back of a Grand Final and premiership, his confidence was high, and as we know he was great particularly in Game III.”
While conceding some of the blame must rest on Cherry-Evans and Munster’s shoulders, Smith believes a lack of link-up play from the players around them is what’s leading to Queensland’s struggles.
“You look at the Queensland side and the responsibility falls on the number six and number seven … as it does for every rugby league side,” Smith said.
“But the other players need to help those guys too, and at times when they were getting close to the New South Wales try-line they just looked disjointed and unorganised.
“It was almost like under age football where they’d throw it to one bloke and just hope he scores a try.
“From a fan point of view that’s the disappointing thing, because when you look at these players they’re elite players – Daly Cherry Evans and Cameron Munster, they’re two of the best halves in the competition.”
Munster and Cherry-Evans will be desperate to improve in Game III as Queensland looks to avoid their first series sweep since 2000.