MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 06: Cameron Munster of the Maroons passes the ball during game one of the State Of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 6, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Queensland coach Kevin Walters has declared that Storm star Cameron Munster is likely to line up at five-eighth in this year's Origin series.

Despite Munster expressing interest to take over from Billy Slater's role at fullback for the Maroons, Walter believes the 24-year old is more effective alongside Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves.

“There’s no doubt about that,” Walters told Former Origin Greats website.

“Daly and Munster showed their worth in game three.

“With Cameron, he doesn’t realise just how good he can be at representative level.

“He has been outstanding for us in the five-eighth role.

“I see Munster as a 10-year Origin player.”

Munster and Cherry-Evans were both instrumental in last year's game three when they were paired up in the halves for the first time, helping guide Queensland to their only win of the series.

Walters will also have a big decision to make on returning playmaker Michael Morgan, who has been sidelined since June with a biceps injury.

But the Maroons clipboard holder maintained that the selection dilemma was a healthy one to have as Queensland look to avenge their second Origin loss from the last 13 years.

“We didn’t miss last year’s series by much and we lost a wealth of experience we relied so heavily on,” Walters said.

“I think we’ve got the right mix of players to do well and win the series. “We didn’t get it right last year so it’s important the players learn from it and get things right this year.”

16 COMMENTS

  1. Munster at 5/8 i agree with but his halves partner i strongly disagree i dont think dce is a big time player in my opinion i know manly fan will get on here and try and roast me over my comment but i stand by it surely qld have better options at 7 not that i care.

  2. Agree with Dragon, I just do not rate DCE. To think he was once touted as being better than Cronk. Munster is a shoo in 5/8 but Walters would be smart to look out for a better partner for him.

  3. With Ponga moving to five-eight surely it’s between Munster or Ponga for both the 1 and 6 jerseys. Munster has said that he wants to be fullback in club and rep level why not let him. Which also begs the question where does the future of DCE, Hunt and Morgan lie. Ash Taylor probably isn’t far off being in contention as a long term halfback.

    Current:
    1. Ponga
    6. Munster
    7. Morgan
    14. DCE/Hunt

    Future:
    1. Munster
    6. Ponga
    7. Taylor
    14. Morgan

  4. As good as Munster can be, he seems to come across as a spoilt brat who thinks he entitled to everything in the game and doesn’t have to earn his stripes. Any big game where his team is losing he can’t handle it

  5. Personally id like to see ponga at 1 munster at 6 and Morgan at 7 then dce and ben hunt can fight it out for the bench spot id rather hunt over dce

  6. They didn’t (as in he wasn’t in the mix) this time last year.
    Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can bag Parra out all you like, and you could make a good arguememt for it etc, but DCE was a bit of a “what choice do we have” for SOO 3, he impressed, hence the Aussie squad selection, but he fell well short of cementing a spot longer term (in the Aussie squad at least).

  7. Is that just a bit of bias there Dragon?
    As much as I’d like to see Queensland lose & see DCE fail. He actually played pretty well in the third game last year.
    I don’t see Hunt as being a great organiser. He has failed miserably when Widdop has been out . I wonder who will do all of the organising at St.George when it’s Hunt & Norman? I think they can be good runners & good at backing up.
    The little kicks into the in goal , putting others through gaps . Those things don’t come naturally to either of those players.

  8. Souffths halves wouldn’t make the Roosters reserve grade team the North Sydney Bears.

    I believe Ponga will be Queensland’s fullback and Herman Munster 5/8, with Michael Morgan the halfback, Cherry Evans played well last season but Morgan is a certainty if he can prove his form after a big injury. DCE has always only been the back up for Qld and a fit Morgan will only confirm this again next season.

  9. Seriously, Munster failed in all 3 Origin games and the Grand Final when he didn’t have Cooper Cronk to back him up like he had the past few seasons. The Maroons won Game III solely off the back of Cherry-Evans’ superb kicking game. And unlike Munster, Cherry-Evans more than pulled his weight in his debut season, when Manly won the premiership.

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