Latest news with #CameronMunster
Courier-Mail
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
‘Fraud': Blues scammed by unrecognisable superstar in series-tying loss, Cameron Munster, Billy Slater
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. COMMENT Let history show there was only one fraud responsible for ensuring an Origin decider in 2025 - and it wasn't Ashley Klein. Cameron Munster's infectious performance in game two will not only be remembered as one of the great playmaker's knocks, but also the biggest scam in Origin history. Why? Not because the Maroons barely eked home on sloppy Blues goalkicking, nor because Klein blew the whistle so often he was mistaken for a car alarm. Nope, it's because Munster did the Blues dirty with a shock new routine - the ability to dominate in Priest Mode. In horrific news for NSW, the captain's role has unlocked a new aspect of Munster that's as level-headed as it is two-faced. Announced as the state's new leader last week, Munster as a Maroons father figure was always bound to conflict with the bottle blonde tomcat we've come to know in so many larrikin grabs and grainy viral videos. Cameron Munster led the Maroons to victory with a dominant display. Cameron Munster led out a team of leaders for the Queensland. (Photo by) But when he presented with a chill steeliness and clean shaven face at his unveiling, we were witnessing the beginning of the transition in real time. Then when he fronted multiple media calls throughout the week in full dad mode and team uniform - and not just to crack zingers or issue a public apology - he was truly unrecognisable. But once Munster lead by example on the paddock in a man of the match performance, not only had he fully transformed in to one of those testimonials on a Tony Robbins self help manual, he'd also confirmed his appointment a rousing success. Sure, it's too early to elevate the new skipper to the bar alongside esteemed types like Baron Cameron Smith, especially after he confirmed his latent larrikinism by slipping a cheeky F-bomb in the post-match interview like a verbal wink in a hostage video. However, the 30 year old proved Wednesday night that the weight of responsibility won't hamper the spring in his step. Billy Slater nailed the captaincy call on Cameron Munster. (Photo by) Cameron Munster was all heart on Wednesday night. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) Just because he was Danny Tanner all week and held a stridently earnest pre-match interview with Johnathan Thurston on the team bus didn't mean he'd also play his footy like a sitcom dad. And just because he openly professed his love for the coach in the post-match press conference without being six beers deep doesn't mean he'll lose his playful edge either. Credit where it's due, Billy Slater has made his fair share of boofheaded decisions this series but he's absolutely nailed this one to the wall. With the series on the line, the coach was under stifling pressure to pull the right rein on Daly Cherry-Evans' replacement at skipper, lest be underlined as the first Queensland coach sunk by Aaron Woods. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY But when he ignored a raft of club captains to anoint Munster as captain, many believed he'd confused the state role with the social club. For all his mercurial brilliance, the Storm talisman has been widely celebrated as the Dally Messenger of good times, a free spirit whose rhinocerene appetite for a beer is matched only by his love of a poor decision. Who could forget when he was sin binned in the 2018 grand final for kicking? Or when he was banned for 12 months by the QRL in 2016 for breaking curfew at an Emerging Origin camp? X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Conversely, what about playing a leading hand in the 2020 series victory after fronting the team photo looking like he'd just served a 12 week sentence in the Milton brewery? Munster has always saddled the line between professional and playboy, a position that reached a crossroads in 2021 when he was sprung on film mucking up on the Gold Coast with Brandon Smith. When it comes to selecting a new skipper, there's no scarier trio of terms on a CV than 'unidentified white powder', 'Gold Coast' and 'The Cheese' - but Slater still bravely gambled on his five-eighth and its come up trumps. Sure, we've all seen similar glimpses of Reverend Munster in recent times as he abandoned the bottle and the extra pounds, albeit the latter only because his wife jibed him about his muffin top. But his performance to save the series proves this captaincy caper could catapult his influence in Origin further towards Wally-esque areas. And all they had to do was shave him down and let him flip the coin. - Dane Eldridge is a warped cynic yearning for the glory days of rugby league, a time when the sponges were magic and the Mondays were mad. He's never strapped on a boot in his life, and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt. Originally published as 'Fraud': Blues scammed by unrecognisable superstar in series-tying loss
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘I'm not happy for him, but I'm proud': Cameron Munster set to play for Storm after earning Origin comparisons to Wally Lewis
Rival coach Wayne Bennett compared Cameron Munster's performance in game two of the State of the Origin series to something Wally Lewis would have done in the past. But he could be on the receiving end on Saturday, with the Storm five-eighth expected to travel to Sydney to take on the Rabbitohs. The former Maroons coach heaped praise on Munster for his man-of-the-match showing in Perth on Wednesday night, likening it to what Lewis did so many times in the past for his state. Storm coach Craig Bellamy wasn't happy for Munster given he's part of the NSW coaching team, but he was super proud of a man who has matured over the years on and off the field in Melbourne. 'Captaining his state would have been a really proud moment for him and his family and the Storm,' Bellamy said. 'He led them with a lot of energy and really stuck to doing what he does well. 'I'm not really happy for him, but I'm really proud of him. Hopefully, the Blues can get them next time. 'The one thing about Cameron and his whole time here, he's got a genuine care for the club, and I think that's his strong suit. 'He's got a lot of strong suits as a footy player, but he's got a genuine care for what's right for the club and what he can do for the club. That's always stood him in really good stead. 'At times he got a bit loose, but Bianca (his partner) and the kids have sorted that out now.' It's been an emotionally draining few days for Munster, who replaced Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland captain and then led his state to a crucial win in the wet, with the champion playmaker heading home to Melbourne to be with his family. But he is expected to take his place on Saturday night for the game against Souths at Accor Stadium, with Bellamy confirming that try-scoring winger Xavier Coates would be rested given his history of hamstring injuries. Harry Grant, Trent Loiero and Stefano Utoikamanu are all expected to play, with the Storm's success built on stars wanting to back up to reward their teammates for helping them make representative sides. 'Xavier won't be playing, but the rest of them have been left alone,' Bellamy said, with Sua Fa'alogo likely to come onto the wing. 'Munster has come back (to Melbourne) to see his kids because he missed them, but he's not trained today. I'm pretty sure he'll play, but the rest of them we'll have to see how they come up and go from there. 'There's a chance of him (Munster) feeling flat because there are certainly going to be fewer people in the crowd. 'But the one thing all of our really good players here have prided themselves on is playing State of Origin and then coming back and backing up for our club. 'Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis all prided themselves on that, and these guys have caught that bug off them. 'They mightn't be 100 per cent tomorrow night because of playing on Wednesday, but we know they're going to give their best, and their best is good enough.'
Herald Sun
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Herald Sun
‘Fraud': Blues scammed by unrecognisable superstar in series-tying loss, Cameron Munster, Billy Slater
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. COMMENT Let history show there was only one fraud responsible for ensuring an Origin decider in 2025 - and it wasn't Ashley Klein. Cameron Munster's infectious performance in game two will not only be remembered as one of the great playmaker's knocks, but also the biggest scam in Origin history. Why? Not because the Maroons barely eked home on sloppy Blues goalkicking, nor because Klein blew the whistle so often he was mistaken for a car alarm. Nope, it's because Munster did the Blues dirty with a shock new routine - the ability to dominate in Priest Mode. In horrific news for NSW, the captain's role has unlocked a new aspect of Munster that's as level-headed as it is two-faced. Announced as the state's new leader last week, Munster as a Maroons father figure was always bound to conflict with the bottle blonde tomcat we've come to know in so many larrikin grabs and grainy viral videos. Cameron Munster led the Maroons to victory with a dominant display. Cameron Munster led out a team of leaders for the Queensland. (Photo by) But when he presented with a chill steeliness and clean shaven face at his unveiling, we were witnessing the beginning of the transition in real time. Then when he fronted multiple media calls throughout the week in full dad mode and team uniform - and not just to crack zingers or issue a public apology - he was truly unrecognisable. But once Munster lead by example on the paddock in a man of the match performance, not only had he fully transformed in to one of those testimonials on a Tony Robbins self help manual, he'd also confirmed his appointment a rousing success. Sure, it's too early to elevate the new skipper to the bar alongside esteemed types like Baron Cameron Smith, especially after he confirmed his latent larrikinism by slipping a cheeky F-bomb in the post-match interview like a verbal wink in a hostage video. However, the 30 year old proved Wednesday night that the weight of responsibility won't hamper the spring in his step. Billy Slater nailed the captaincy call on Cameron Munster. (Photo by) Cameron Munster was all heart on Wednesday night. (Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP) Just because he was Danny Tanner all week and held a stridently earnest pre-match interview with Johnathan Thurston on the team bus didn't mean he'd also play his footy like a sitcom dad. And just because he openly professed his love for the coach in the post-match press conference without being six beers deep doesn't mean he'll lose his playful edge either. Credit where it's due, Billy Slater has made his fair share of boofheaded decisions this series but he's absolutely nailed this one to the wall. With the series on the line, the coach was under stifling pressure to pull the right rein on Daly Cherry-Evans' replacement at skipper, lest be underlined as the first Queensland coach sunk by Aaron Woods. But when he ignored a raft of club captains to anoint Munster as captain, many believed he'd confused the state role with the social club. For all his mercurial brilliance, the Storm talisman has been widely celebrated as the Dally Messenger of good times, a free spirit whose rhinocerene appetite for a beer is matched only by his love of a poor decision. Who could forget when he was sin binned in the 2018 grand final for kicking? Or when he was banned for 12 months by the QRL in 2016 for breaking curfew at an Emerging Origin camp? Conversely, what about playing a leading hand in the 2020 series victory after fronting the team photo looking like he'd just served a 12 week sentence in the Milton brewery? Munster has always saddled the line between professional and playboy, a position that reached a crossroads in 2021 when he was sprung on film mucking up on the Gold Coast with Brandon Smith. When it comes to selecting a new skipper, there's no scarier trio of terms on a CV than 'unidentified white powder', 'Gold Coast' and 'The Cheese' - but Slater still bravely gambled on his five-eighth and its come up trumps. Sure, we've all seen similar glimpses of Reverend Munster in recent times as he abandoned the bottle and the extra pounds, albeit the latter only because his wife jibed him about his muffin top. But his performance to save the series proves this captaincy caper could catapult his influence in Origin further towards Wally-esque areas. And all they had to do was shave him down and let him flip the coin. - Dane Eldridge is a warped cynic yearning for the glory days of rugby league, a time when the sponges were magic and the Mondays were mad. He's never strapped on a boot in his life, and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt. Originally published as 'Fraud': Blues scammed by unrecognisable superstar in series-tying loss
News.com.au
18 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Fraud': Blues scammed by unrecognisable superstar in series-tying loss
Let history show there was only one fraud responsible for ensuring an Origin decider in 2025 - and it wasn't Ashley Klein. Cameron Munster's infectious performance in game two will not only be remembered as one of the great playmaker's knocks, but also the biggest scam in Origin history. Why? Not because the Maroons barely eked home on sloppy Blues goalkicking, nor because Klein blew the whistle so often he was mistaken for a car alarm. Nope, it's because Munster did the Blues dirty with a shock new routine - the ability to dominate in Priest Mode. In horrific news for NSW, the captain's role has unlocked a new aspect of Munster that's as level-headed as it is two-faced. Announced as the state's new leader last week, Munster as a Maroons father figure was always bound to conflict with the bottle blonde tomcat we've come to know in so many larrikin grabs and grainy viral videos. But when he presented with a chill steeliness and clean shaven face at his unveiling, we were witnessing the beginning of the transition in real time. Then when he fronted multiple media calls throughout the week in full dad mode and team uniform - and not just to crack zingers or issue a public apology - he was truly unrecognisable. But once Munster lead by example on the paddock in a man of the match performance, not only had he fully transformed in to one of those testimonials on a Tony Robbins self help manual, he'd also confirmed his appointment a rousing success. Sure, it's too early to elevate the new skipper to the bar alongside esteemed types like Baron Cameron Smith, especially after he confirmed his latent larrikinism by slipping a cheeky F-bomb in the post-match interview like a verbal wink in a hostage video. However, the 30 year old proved Wednesday night that the weight of responsibility won't hamper the spring in his step. Just because he was Danny Tanner all week and held a stridently earnest pre-match interview with Johnathan Thurston on the team bus didn't mean he'd also play his footy like a sitcom dad. And just because he openly professed his love for the coach in the post-match press conference without being six beers deep doesn't mean he'll lose his playful edge either. Credit where it's due, Billy Slater has made his fair share of boofheaded decisions this series but he's absolutely nailed this one to the wall. With the series on the line, the coach was under stifling pressure to pull the right rein on Daly Cherry-Evans' replacement at skipper, lest be underlined as the first Queensland coach sunk by Aaron Woods. But when he ignored a raft of club captains to anoint Munster as captain, many believed he'd confused the state role with the social club. For all his mercurial brilliance, the Storm talisman has been widely celebrated as the Dally Messenger of good times, a free spirit whose rhinocerene appetite for a beer is matched only by his love of a poor decision. Who could forget when he was sin binned in the 2018 grand final for kicking? Or when he was banned for 12 months by the QRL in 2016 for breaking curfew at an Emerging Origin camp? Conversely, what about playing a leading hand in the 2020 series victory after fronting the team photo looking like he'd just served a 12 week sentence in the Milton brewery? Munster has always saddled the line between professional and playboy, a position that reached a crossroads in 2021 when he was sprung on film mucking up on the Gold Coast with Brandon Smith. When it comes to selecting a new skipper, there's no scarier trio of terms on a CV than 'unidentified white powder', 'Gold Coast' and 'The Cheese' - but Slater still bravely gambled on his five-eighth and its come up trumps. Sure, we've all seen similar glimpses of Reverend Munster in recent times as he abandoned the bottle and the extra pounds, albeit the latter only because his wife jibed him about his muffin top. But his performance to save the series proves this captaincy caper could catapult his influence in Origin further towards Wally-esque areas. And all they had to do was shave him down and let him flip the coin. - Dane Eldridge is a warped cynic yearning for the glory days of rugby league, a time when the sponges were magic and the Mondays were mad. He's never strapped on a boot in his life, and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Tiny detail on Queensland jerseys should terrify NSW Blues
NSW fans, consider yourselves warned. Queensland have forced a series decider and are somehow 80 minutes away from a third shield in four years despite being outplayed for much of the past four Origin games. The Maroons held on to claim a thrilling 26-24 victory in Game 2 in Perth on Wednesday night to keep the series alive. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. They were aided by a lopsided penalty count as referee Ashley Klein came under fire, while Nathan Cleary's groin injury was a concern for NSW, who have been urged to make changes to their forward pack. But the story of the game was the return of Queensland's fighting spirit. Following a dismal display in Game 1, the Maroons came out firing in the first half to take a 26-6 halftime lead that proved insurmountable. New Queensland captain Cameron Munster rallied behind Billy Slater after the game, declaring the team lifted for him after the coach was called a 'grub' by former NSW forward Aaron Woods in the lead-up. And his words after the victory should send give Queenslanders plenty of hope, and send shivers down the spine of NSW fans desperate for rare back-to-back series wins. After dedicating the win to Slater, Munster invoked the memory of Queensland's 1995 team that famously claimed the most unlikely of series wins 30 years ago. While he was speaking, a tiny detail on his right shoulder became apparent. Emblazoned on the white trimming on Queensland's jerseys was '1995', with the four digits clearly a theme inside the Maroons' camp. It's an extra touch to Queensland's jerseys, which also feature each player's local postcode on their shoulder in the style of the XXXX beer logo. 'We had a really good first half. Second half we just shot ourselves in the foot — you can't afford to give a team like that so much ball,' Munster told Nine immediately after the game. 'But we had that mentality, like the '95 Nobodies team and just kept working and turning up for each other and we ended up getting the chocolates.' In 1995, a flame-haired Paul Vautin coached a Queensland team dubbed the 'Neville Nobodies', featuring a teenage Ben Ikin, to a shock 3-0 clean sweep. 'It's just a pleasure playing with these boys,' Munster added. 'I know we didn't deliver in Game 1, but I felt like our preparation was really good and we built it on that in game two. 'I love playing with this group. It was a never-say-die attitude tonight; our back was against the wall and that's what we love about it. Queenslanders love being underdogs and we still are. 'But in Game 3, we need to be a lot better in certain positions and we can't afford to give them piggy backs.' Maroons hooker Harry Grant echoed Munster's sentiment, and emphasised the importance the 30-year anniversary of the 1995 triumph was having on the current team. 'We've made reference to 1995 Queensland Maroons and the grit they showed in defence,' Grant told Fox Sports News. 'To be honest, that was going through my head and it was probably going through everyone else's heads — those little reminders and communication plays a big part. 'We just wanted to show up and keep turning up.' History shows the Maroons relish being underdogs — the 2020 team was infamously described by one pundit as the worst ever Maroons side — the Wayne Bennett coached team went on to beat NSW 2-1. Munster was named man of the match in Perth on Wednesday and after taking over Daly Cherry-Evans as captain, he rose to the occasion not just through his performance, but his words post-game. The 30-year-old, playing his 20th game for Queensland, paid tribute to his former Storm teammate Slater in an emotional address in their post-match press conference. 'I played with Bill, he is a champion player and a champion coach and I have had a great relationship with him and still do. We are really close mates,' Munster said. 'When you have someone jabbing him like that, it really hurts. It hurts me personally and I never tell him that. I will tell him now, I love him. 'I just want to do the best thing for him and the best thing for Queensland. He's not doing this for him, he's doing this for Queensland and he loves Queensland. 'That's the reason why he's so passionate and when you have someone like that at the top, you want to play for him. At the end of the day … he's the reason I want to play.' 'That's the nicest thing he has ever said to me,' Slater said.
