‘I'm not happy for him, but I'm proud': Cameron Munster set to play for Storm after earning Origin comparisons to Wally Lewis

News.com.au

5 hours ago

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.'