'Hopefully I don't get the boot': Munster turns to Yeo for tips on form slump
- Author
- Timestamp
Maroons captain Cameron Munster is so desperate to overcome the form slump he fears could cost him his Origin spot that he sought the advice of Blues counterpart Isaah Yeo.
Munster and Yeo were at the MCG for the Origin series launch with rival Queensland and NSW coaches, Billy Slater and Laurie Daley when the superstar five-eighth asked the Blues skipper how Penrith had turned their 2025 season around.
The Panthers are leading the NRL after just one loss this season and beat the Storm 50-10 but last year the four-times back-to-back premiers were sitting on the bottom of the NRL ladder until Round 12.
“I was speaking to Yeoie about it just before and they had something similar last year,” Munster said at the Origin launch, which also featured rival women’s coaches John Strange (NSW) and Nathan Cross (Queensland), and star players Isabelle Kelly (Blues) and Lauren Brown (Maroons).
“I'll hopefully never in my life again lose five in a row, but this (Origin) probably heightens that pressure a little bit more in a way.”
While Munster is in unchartered waters and frustrated about not knowing when the losing streak would end, Yeo said he and the Storm would be better for the experience.
“I know what he is going through just from last year and it’s not nice,” Yeo said.
“The lessons you can learn from it, and we are still learning at the moment, they can put you in good stead for the future. But it is not much fun when you are going through it.”
Overlooking the MCG where Origin II will be played on June 17, Munster joked about how he hoped to still be the Queensland captain when the series comes to his home city after taking over the role from Daly Cherry-Evans last year.
Match: Blues v Maroons
Game 2 -
home Team
Blues
away Team
Maroons
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
However, like Maroons great Wally Lewis, whom he is often compared to, most expect Munster to return to his best in Origin regardless of how he is playing at club level.
“I'm sure a lot of people probably think I’ve been below par, and I know (because) I'm my worst critic, so, hopefully, I can get back to playing some good footy and build on that, hopefully, before the series starts,” Munster said.
"I have high expectations on myself and the way I've been playing ... I probably just think I'm going into games at the moment over-trying and trying too hard.
Yeo confident middle men can thrive despite pain of losing Haas
"That's what happens when pressure mounts and you don't win games and you think you can do it yourself.
“I wouldn't say that I'm not trying or my effort’s not there, but it’s just that things aren't falling into place that usually fall into place for me, so I've just got to keep working on it.”
Despite Queensland having more support in Victoria than the Blues for reasons more to do with the rivalry both states share with NSW than rugby league, the Maroons record at the MCG is poor.
Of the six Origins played at the MCG, the Blues have won five – in 1994, 1997, 2015, 2018 and 2024, with Queensland’s only win being during the Super League war, when “Fatty’s Nevilles” coach by Paul Vautin stunned NSW 3-0 in the 1995 series.
Munster excited to lead Maroons onto MCG
“We haven’t had a great record here, but hopefully we can find a win because I can’t find one at the moment," Munster said.
I’ve been ringing Bill to make sure he doesn’t put a line through me.
“It’s pretty special to play here so hopefully we play well in Game 1 and I can lead the team out in Game 2.
“Hopefully, I don't get the boot like Chez (Cherry-Evans) did after his one loss last year, so I’m looking forward to going out there and hopefully playing some good footy because at the moment, I haven't been doing that.”
With crowds of 91,513 in 2015, 87,122 in 2018 and 90,084 in 2024, Melbourne can’t get enough of State of Origin and Visit Victoria chief executive Brendan McClements said the city could bid for a Women’s Origin in future.
“I would hope that in a couple of years we’ll also start to talk about the Women’s Origin being played here because I think that will be a fantastic signal for the growth of the sport,” McClements said.
The opening Women's State of Origin is at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium next Thursday, before two games in Queensland - May 14 at Suncorp Stadium and May 28 at Cbus Super Stadium.
Match: Blues Women v Maroons
Game 1 -
home Team
Blues Women
away Team
Maroons
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
