'Throw our arms around him': Maroons lift for Munster

The Advertiser

21 hours ago

Queensland are set to lift for grief-stricken captain Cameron Munster with support and a performance to be proud of in the State of Origin decider.
The death of Munster's father Steven has saddened the playing group, who are also inspired by their captain's braveheart decision to play on Wednesday night after spending time with his family.
Munster left Maroons camp on Sunday morning to grieve and support his family, but is expected to rejoin the team, possibly as early as Tuesday's captain's run in Sydney.
Munster's Melbourne and Maroons teammate, hooker Harry Grant, grew up in the 30-year-old's home town of Rockhampton and knows the family well. He said Munster's dad would be proud of his decision to play.
"When you think about it, Cameron Munster captaining Queensland brings so much pride to his whole family, and Stevie-boy would love to see him out there in the maroon captaining his state," Grant said.
"I think it is very brave the way he is handling the situation. We have to respect the way he is handling it and give him that time and space ... and then flick the mindset to Queensland Maroons, Origin and what is around the corner.
"The best way we can support him is throwing our arms around him and ultimately ... with our performance and our preparation.
"It shows the strength of character of Cam and who he is, and more importantly how much the Maroons mean to him and his family.''
He said Munster's loss also provided perspective on life itself, and while Origin means so much to so many, ultimately it is just a game.
"It hits everyone hard, as we are all aware. You don't know what is around the corner, so you have got to be nice and present, and take in the moments you have," Grant said.
"(Munster has) a beautiful family and I've had plenty of moments and plenty of experiences with the family over the years. What we can control is our performance, and that's the best way to pay our respects to the family.
"It's a real reminder that this is just a game, and as much as we love it there is more to life than rugby league. At the end of the day sometimes rugby league is people's lives as well."
As for when Munster would return to camp, Grant said that was up to him.
"If he can make it back, and him and his family have made that decision and Cam's OK to travel south, then he'll make captain's run," he said.
"We've got training late Tuesday arvo, which gives him every chance to spend as much time with the family as he can."
Former Maroons captain Cameron Smith knew Steve Munster well and said he would support his son leading the team in Sydney.
"I can understand why he'd be going through so much grief at the moment with the loss of not only his dad but someone that was a huge supporter of his footy career, of his life to date and what he's achieved in his life," Smith said.
"I knew Cam Munster's father, Steve; he was a wonderful man. I met him many, many times with my time at the Melbourne Storm.
"I think the thing that he would love is for Cam to go out and do what he loves doing, and that's playing rugby league, pulling on the maroon jersey and leading his side the way we know he can lead, like he did in game two."
Queensland are set to lift for grief-stricken captain Cameron Munster with support and a performance to be proud of in the State of Origin decider.
The death of Munster's father Steven has saddened the playing group, who are also inspired by their captain's braveheart decision to play on Wednesday night after spending time with his family.
Munster left Maroons camp on Sunday morning to grieve and support his family, but is expected to rejoin the team, possibly as early as Tuesday's captain's run in Sydney.
Munster's Melbourne and Maroons teammate, hooker Harry Grant, grew up in the 30-year-old's home town of Rockhampton and knows the family well. He said Munster's dad would be proud of his decision to play.
"When you think about it, Cameron Munster captaining Queensland brings so much pride to his whole family, and Stevie-boy would love to see him out there in the maroon captaining his state," Grant said.
"I think it is very brave the way he is handling the situation. We have to respect the way he is handling it and give him that time and space ... and then flick the mindset to Queensland Maroons, Origin and what is around the corner.
"The best way we can support him is throwing our arms around him and ultimately ... with our performance and our preparation.
"It shows the strength of character of Cam and who he is, and more importantly how much the Maroons mean to him and his family.''
He said Munster's loss also provided perspective on life itself, and while Origin means so much to so many, ultimately it is just a game.
"It hits everyone hard, as we are all aware. You don't know what is around the corner, so you have got to be nice and present, and take in the moments you have," Grant said.
"(Munster has) a beautiful family and I've had plenty of moments and plenty of experiences with the family over the years. What we can control is our performance, and that's the best way to pay our respects to the family.
"It's a real reminder that this is just a game, and as much as we love it there is more to life than rugby league. At the end of the day sometimes rugby league is people's lives as well."
As for when Munster would return to camp, Grant said that was up to him.
"If he can make it back, and him and his family have made that decision and Cam's OK to travel south, then he'll make captain's run," he said.
"We've got training late Tuesday arvo, which gives him every chance to spend as much time with the family as he can."
Former Maroons captain Cameron Smith knew Steve Munster well and said he would support his son leading the team in Sydney.
"I can understand why he'd be going through so much grief at the moment with the loss of not only his dad but someone that was a huge supporter of his footy career, of his life to date and what he's achieved in his life," Smith said.
"I knew Cam Munster's father, Steve; he was a wonderful man. I met him many, many times with my time at the Melbourne Storm.
"I think the thing that he would love is for Cam to go out and do what he loves doing, and that's playing rugby league, pulling on the maroon jersey and leading his side the way we know he can lead, like he did in game two."
Queensland are set to lift for grief-stricken captain Cameron Munster with support and a performance to be proud of in the State of Origin decider.
The death of Munster's father Steven has saddened the playing group, who are also inspired by their captain's braveheart decision to play on Wednesday night after spending time with his family.
Munster left Maroons camp on Sunday morning to grieve and support his family, but is expected to rejoin the team, possibly as early as Tuesday's captain's run in Sydney.
Munster's Melbourne and Maroons teammate, hooker Harry Grant, grew up in the 30-year-old's home town of Rockhampton and knows the family well. He said Munster's dad would be proud of his decision to play.
"When you think about it, Cameron Munster captaining Queensland brings so much pride to his whole family, and Stevie-boy would love to see him out there in the maroon captaining his state," Grant said.
"I think it is very brave the way he is handling the situation. We have to respect the way he is handling it and give him that time and space ... and then flick the mindset to Queensland Maroons, Origin and what is around the corner.
"The best way we can support him is throwing our arms around him and ultimately ... with our performance and our preparation.
"It shows the strength of character of Cam and who he is, and more importantly how much the Maroons mean to him and his family.''
He said Munster's loss also provided perspective on life itself, and while Origin means so much to so many, ultimately it is just a game.
"It hits everyone hard, as we are all aware. You don't know what is around the corner, so you have got to be nice and present, and take in the moments you have," Grant said.
"(Munster has) a beautiful family and I've had plenty of moments and plenty of experiences with the family over the years. What we can control is our performance, and that's the best way to pay our respects to the family.
"It's a real reminder that this is just a game, and as much as we love it there is more to life than rugby league. At the end of the day sometimes rugby league is people's lives as well."
As for when Munster would return to camp, Grant said that was up to him.
"If he can make it back, and him and his family have made that decision and Cam's OK to travel south, then he'll make captain's run," he said.
"We've got training late Tuesday arvo, which gives him every chance to spend as much time with the family as he can."
Former Maroons captain Cameron Smith knew Steve Munster well and said he would support his son leading the team in Sydney.
"I can understand why he'd be going through so much grief at the moment with the loss of not only his dad but someone that was a huge supporter of his footy career, of his life to date and what he's achieved in his life," Smith said.
"I knew Cam Munster's father, Steve; he was a wonderful man. I met him many, many times with my time at the Melbourne Storm.
"I think the thing that he would love is for Cam to go out and do what he loves doing, and that's playing rugby league, pulling on the maroon jersey and leading his side the way we know he can lead, like he did in game two."