Bellamy tells Munster to simply run the ball
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The man who has coached Cameron Munster to Test and Origin level, Craig Bellamy, believes his young five-eighth just needs to run the ball in game three on Wednesday night like he did 12 months ago.
Munster made his Maroons debut in Origin III at Suncorp Stadium and set up two of the four tries that clinched the 2017 shield for Queensland.
This year at Suncorp Stadium the series is already gone, and Munster has a third halves partner in four games – Daly Cherry-Evans – after Cooper Cronk and Ben Hunt.
"I don't know what the ideal thing is (for new halves) but from where I sit they look they will gel well and complement each other," Bellamy told NRL.com of the DCE-Munster pairing.
"So it will be interesting to see how it goes. They would have done their work on the training field but it's the work they do in the planning room, just talking things through together.
"They're obviously talented individuals so I'm expecting them to work together well."
Munster made 11 runs for 117 metres in game one at the MCG and 13 runs for 98 metres in game two at ANZ Stadium and across both game he made six tackle breaks.
"He's got a real physicality about him," Bellamy said of his young Storm star.
"His best game is his running game but he's got a really good passing game in him too.
"Cameron is your natural footy player to be quite honest. I just like him best when he runs the ball. It's a great quality to have in a NRL player."
It's also the quality that caught Cherry-Evans's eye sitting on the lounge room couch watch Melbourne's club games this year.
Funny thing is that the pair will combine on Wednesday and then oppose each other on Saturday when the Storm come to Lottoland to play the Manly Sea Eagles.
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"I've never played alongside Cam but I've watched him from afar as he does such good work in Melbourne," Cherry-Evans told NRL.com.
"He's a fantastic player. Based on what I've seen I think we'll gel really nicely.
"He's a very instinctive player, and while that can also be my strength at times, I've certainly learnt a more calmer role in rugby league, playing halfback in particular," Cherry-Evans said.
"So I feel as though with my confidence in running the side, I'll be able to bring him up into the line and let him do his thing, which is what he does best."
Match: Maroons v Blues
Game 3 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Bellamy said Munster had been a quick learner as people forget his natural position has been as custodian.
"He's only a young guy and hasn't played a lot in the halves. He played there when he was a kid but mainly in his NRL career he's been a fullback," Bellamy said.
"He came to five-eighth last year so he's still learning a lot how halves play at the NRL level.
"But he got a lot of confidence, and should have got it, from last year in that third Origin game.
"Then he finished off the year in a grand final and in the Australian side so that's given him a lot of confidence."
