He isn’t the first-choice goalkicker for his club side but Cameron Munster has taken over the kicking tee in the green and gold by process of elimination.
The Storm playmaker stepped in for Reece Walsh in the 66-6 win over the Cook Islands and kept the job in last week’s 44-12 semi-final victory over Samoa.
Having kicked two goals across the past four seasons for the Storm, Munster wasn't exactly champing at the bit but he has landed 11 of his 15 attempts at 73 per cent for the Kangaros - more than serviceable for a part-time kicker.
With regular NRL goalkickers Sam Walker and Latrell Mitchell out of the starting side, the duties have fallen to Munster - a reluctant kicker at best.
“To be completely honest, I don’t really like goalkicking,” Munster said.
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“I just do it because we’ve got no one in our squad doing it at the moment.
“Reece is our No.1 kicker, so if he feels good enough to do it on Sunday, he’ll take over.
“If he pulls up a little bit lame on captain’s run with his groins, I’ll probably take over.”
Whoever has the tee on Sunday, Munster knows goalkicking will be critical in a tight contest with the Kiwis, who have one of the game's best kickers Jamayne Isaako banging them over from everywhere.
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“When we do get the opportunity to take the two points at different stages or take a penalty, we need to make sure to ice them,” he said.
Munster has found top gear when it matters most, producing his best game of the tournament in the impressive win over Samoa.
Running the ball is what he does best, and his 18 runs were the most of any Kangaroo. He finished with 146 running metres, a line break and two line break assists.
“When I’m playing my best, it’s when I’m running the ball. That’s the mindset and the aim for myself on Sunday,” Munster said.
“The game might not be the same against New Zealand. I’m sure they’ve got a plan around myself, and I’m sure I’ll have to try and figure out a way to get around it.”
Munster made his Australian debut against France at the 2017 World Cup but couldn't find a spot in the halves for the Final with Michael Morgan and Cooper Cronk calling the shots.
Come 2022 and Munster had his moments as the Kangaroos secured a third successive World Cup glory by downing Samoa at Old Trafford, and he wants the younger members of the Kangaroos team to experience that same feeling.
“Playing the World Cup for your country is the biggest accolade you can have,” he said.
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“I remember one of the boys, Jack Bostock, asked me the other day what it was like to win a cup.
“It’s something I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to win, but these guys who have only just had their first World Cup, you try to give them that taste.
“You never know, four years’ time, who’s going to be able to be in the squad again.”
- Tune into Channel 7 this Sunday to see the Kangaroos and Kiwis battle for World Cup supremacy. LIVE from 6.30pm AEDT
