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'Try and take my head off': Munster expecting desperate tactics from NSW Blues in Origin II
By AAP
Cameron Munster expects NSW’s newest villain Liam Martin to go headhunting in Perth in what shapes as the Queensland star’s biggest State of Origin test.
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Maroons five-eighth Munster took a stranglehold on the second half in their game one victory in Sydney, leaving many comparing his Origin influence to that of Wally Lewis.
His man-of-the-match performance came despite close attention from the Blues’ enforcers and Munster expects Martin to dial up the physicality in game two on Sunday, having assumed the retired Paul Gallen’s role of pantomime villain.
“I like what he brings – competitive and aggression – we’ve had our fair share of tits and tats with each other,” the 27-year-old said of Blues and Penrith backrower Martin.
“They’ll come out and try and take my head off, or do things that aren’t usually done.”
Munster was fined in consecutive matches last year for kicking Martin in Origin I and then Warriors fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, while he avoided any penalty when his knee accidentally made contact with Blues captain James Tedesco in Origin II.
At the time his NRL coach Craig Bellamy labelled Munster a “competitive monster” who “needs to cut that out of his game”, something the playmaker acknowledged on Wednesday.
“In previous years I’ve probably been known (to let it) get under my skin and be a lot more, how do I explain, not grubby, but do things I wouldn’t normally do,” Munster said ahead of his 15th Origin appearance.
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“I’m not that kind of person, but it shows in pressure games when things come out the top of your head.
“I know they’re going to be coming for me; I will have a lot more heat coming for me … I just (need to) play calm footy.”
Munster released the shackles after halftime in the series opener, roaming wider in a freelance role that upset the Blues’ structure.
He’ll attempt to do similar at Optus Stadium to secure the series for Queensland, but insists his side’s fortunes don’t rest solely on his shoulders.
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“If (NSW) put all their eggs in one basket and focus on me you’ve got Harry Grant, Ben Hunt, Daly Cherry-Evans and Kalyn Ponga there to wreak havoc,” he said.
“It’s a nice accolade (to be compared to Lewis), but he’s done a lot more than I have and he’s always going to be the King of Queensland
“There’s only one Wally Lewis … I don’t want to be pumping the tyres up too much, at the end of the day it’s just one win.”
