Queensland legend Wally Lewis says NSW can’t plan for what Cameron Munster will do and that’s one of the reasons he rates him as one of the best players ever seen in the State of Origin arena.
Munster will play in the same number six jersey that Lewis owned for a decade in the Origin series opener in Adelaide on Wednesday night.
"You can’t plan for Munster. He just reacts. It is all about instinct," Lewis told AAP.
"The best players in the Origin arena have always reacted to what’s in front of them and Munster is one of them.
"He reads a game so well and is a lot different to a lot of players who get told what to do by a coach.
"Munster plays his own game and to me they are the style of players that are the most successful and impossible to stop.
"When you have a bloke playing to a plan the opposition coach will say, ‘He does this and this is what he will stick to’. With Munster you can’t tell what is going to happen, what he is going to do or where he’s going to do it."
Lewis was the master at controlling and reading a game but said he played a lot of his footy off the cuff with his magnificent offsider Allan Langer.
"You will find Munster will go into planned attacking modes when Queensland get into the attack zone but he will still respond to opportunities that become available," Lewis said.
"For the opposition it is a case of, ‘Do your best’."
Munster was superb in the series opener in Adelaide in 2020 but copped criticism after Queensland lost Game Two. He responded by winning man of the match and series in the decider.
After an underwhelming 2021 series he responded by being the official player of the match in last year’s series opener, setting up the Maroons for a 2-1 series win.
"It is not just the big moments Munster loves. He loves the challenge as well," Lewis said.
"There were people putting s*** on him at various stages in the last three series but he is the sort of guy who likes taking that on and delivering pain to the opposition and their supporters."
Munster said showcasing another Game One stunner in Adelaide "would be nice".
"I wish everyone was writing the script. It would be something I'd be trying to write, but I have to go out there and play some good footy," Munster said.
"I've had some good moments and 50-50 moments, but if I play the footy I know I can play … hopefully I do that on Wednesday night.
"If I can play consistently all through the series like 2020 it would be pleasing for myself and the state."
