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Munster injury further sours bad night for Queensland in Perth
By
AAP
Cameron Munster could miss Queensland’s State of Origin series decider after hurting his shoulder in their heavy Perth defeat.
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The Maroons five-eighth will have scans on his left shoulder on Monday after a collision early in the second half of their 44-12 loss at Optus Stadium rendered him a “passenger”.
Game three is in Brisbane on July 13, Munster was unable to say with any confidence that he’ll be fit to play in what looms as a monster setback for coach Billy Slater.
“I was a bit of a passenger out there (after the injury),” Munster said.
“My body’s not holding up as good as I’d like it to be, but fingers crossed I can get myself right.
“I’ll get a scan tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”
Munster was man-of-the-match in Sydney’s 16-10 win but was nullified by a dominant NSW pack that allowed Blues’ halfback Nathan Cleary to thrive.
If Munster isn’t fit to play it could pave the way for North Queensland playmaker Tom Dearden’s debut, or the versatile Ben Hunt could be shifted from hooker to partner Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves.
Queensland had led 12-8 late in the first half before a string of penalties led to Felise Kaufusi’s sin-binning and a Brian To’o try.
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Weight of possession and territory – NSW enjoyed 71 per cent territory and had 33 tackles inside Queensland’s 20m zone to the Maroons’ six – eventually told in a five-try second half.
“Everything (went wrong) by the looks of it, a bit of a flogging,” Munster said.
“We matched it in the first half, felt we were the better side, but momentum changed and their little moments turned into big moments.”
Cleary scored twice and set up two tries, while his in-game kicking tormented Queensland’s young wingers Murray Taulagi and Selwyn Cobbo.
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“In the first game he wasn’t up to par for himself, is what he said, and obviously proved his critics wrong tonight,” Munster said.
“He’s a good quality player … but we made him look good.
“We gave him too much time and space and someone like that, nine times out of 10 they’ll take their opportunity.”
Second-gamer Jeremiah Nanai also missed a one-on-one tackle on Jarome Luai that led to a try, coach Slater admitting most Queensland players would be reflecting on costly errors as he weighs up the possibility of changes.
“I’m not going to bag out my teammates,” Munster said of suggestions their forward pack were soundly beaten.
“We were all poor, need to be better. We had a great opportunity to seal the series and we fell short.”
