Munster Seeks Smith's Smarts to Revive Maroons' Origin Hopes

Cameron Munster, the newly appointed captain of Queensland, is looking to emulate the leadership qualities of the legendary Cameron Smith to revitalize his team's State of Origin campaign. The Maroons are set to face New South Wales in Perth for Game II of the series, aiming for their first victory in the Western Australian capital.

In Game I at Suncorp Stadium, Queensland suffered an 18-6 defeat to the Blues, displaying a lack of discipline, defensive weaknesses, and a poorly defined attacking strategy. Smith, who captained the Maroons to six series wins in his illustrious career, consistently outmaneuvered New South Wales in both planning and execution.

Munster, who made his Origin debut under Smith and won two NRL titles at Melbourne during Smith's captaincy, turned to the retired champion for guidance when asked about his captaincy aspirations following the Maroons' third consecutive Origin loss. He acknowledged Smith's exceptional leadership, highlighting his remarkable record of 42 games for Queensland, a feat unlikely to be surpassed. Munster emphasized Smith's ability to dismantle opponents through strategic thinking and intelligence, rather than relying solely on individual brilliance.

The "smarts" that Munster referenced, a hallmark of Smith's gameplay, were noticeably absent in Game One. Queensland conceded early penalties, missed crucial tackles, and lacked a cohesive attacking plan. Coach Billy Slater has made adjustments to the team, including promoting Melbourne forward Trent Loiero to the starting lineup.

Loiero, known for his physicality, echoed the need for the Maroons to adopt Smith-like intelligence on the field. He acknowledged the importance of aggression in the game but stressed the necessity of playing with smarts, avoiding unnecessary mistakes and penalties. He stated the team had reviewed their performance and were committed to rectifying their errors.

Loiero described the post-game review as intense, with frank discussions among the team members. He emphasized the lessons learned from the loss and the team's determination to improve in Game II. He concluded by stating the importance of teamwork and using aggression in a constructive manner to achieve the best results.