State of Origin star Cameron Munster’s Maroons triumph anniversary brings heartache
Debbie Munster holds a photo of son, Cameron, celebrating a Queensland victory. (ABC Capricornia: Aaron Kelly)
In short:
Cameron Munster will lead the Maroons for the third time in the State of Origin series opener in Sydney tonight.
Munster’s previous game as Maroons captain came days after his father’s sudden death.
What’s next?
He will honour his dad, Steven, once again when the Maroons begin their title defence against New South Wales in Game I.
It’s been almost a year since Debbie Munster watched her son bravely inspire the Maroons to an emotion-charged State of Origin series victory.
But not a day goes by that the proud Origin mum doesn’t think about the “heartbreaking” phone call she made to her son, just three days from the most important game of his rugby league career.
“To make that heartbreaking phone call to Cameron, I can’t put it into words to describe just how hard it was,”
Ms Munster said.
In just his second game as Queensland captain last year, Munster dedicated Queensland’s triumph over New South Wales to his late father, Steven, who tragically died from a sudden heart attack at 58.
A tearful Queensland coach Billy Slater hugs skipper Cameron Munster after last year’s Origin decider. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
As the Rockhampton and central Queensland product prepares to lead the Maroons out in tonight’s series opener in Sydney, the Munster family is still grieving the loss.
“It was an incredibly difficult time for us, considering [Steven] wasn’t sick,” Ms Munster recalled.
“We were talking to him at 11 o’clock at night, and he was gone by six [o’clock] the next morning.
“Everything in those weeks after Steven’s passing just passed in a blur.“
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Sorting through old photographs of special family moments and milestones at her Norman Gardens home in Rockhampton, Ms Munster holds back tears as she talks about her son dealing with the grief over his father’s death.
“It was very hard because of how invested in Cameron Steven was,” she said.
“Cameron, I think, makes out he copes, but I’m sure there are times when it gets to him.”
Debbie Munster looks back on the treasured memories that have shaped the Munster family over the years. (ABC Capricornia: Aaron Kelly)
Resilience and toughness
The pain of loss has been overwhelming for the close-knit Munster family since that Sunday morning before the Origin decider last year.
Munster’s sister, Danielle Kersnovske, shares a special bond with her older brother.
She was alongside his mother when they delivered the shattering news while in Maroons camp.
Cameron Munster was in Maroons camp when he received the devastating news from his family. (Getty Images: Bradley Kanaris)
Looking back, Ms Kersnovske said she still worried about how devastating it was for her brother.
“Once we had the Origin and Dad’s funeral and everything else, you look back now and you’re like, ‘What actually happened in those months and how would it have been for Cameron?”
she said.
“Because he was on a high from captaining Queensland, winning the series, and then having to turn up for his club and continue the rest of the season.”
Cameron Munster and his family celebrate his 200th NRL game in the Melbourne Storm sheds. (Supplied: Danielle Kersnovske)
Munster has often credited his sister with teaching him resilience and toughness during their childhood.
And come kick-off tonight, there will be nobody in Queensland cheering louder.
“It’s been a tough year for him, both personally and as a player, and there’s been plenty said about his questionable form along the way,” Ms Kersnovske said.
“But through it all he’s kept turning up, putting in the work and finding a balance again.“
Cameron Munster has had a mixed start to the year. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)
Munster magic
Munster has perfectly timed his return to form on the cusp of State of Origin Game I.
The renowned big match performer has inspired the Melbourne Storm to consecutive wins, which included a vintage Munster display during Magic Round in Brisbane.
“I know I wasn’t up to scratch the way I had been playing previous years and then found some form the last couple of weeks,” he said.
Cameron Munster in camp with the Maroons on the Sunshine Coast ahead of Game I. (Suppled: Queensland Rugby League)
“It was probably about me going in and playing more attacking footy than those high percentage plays.
“The way the game is going at the moment, you have got to be able to attack.”
Queensland coach Billy Slater said he never lost confidence in his Maroons captain.
“He’s the Queensland five-eighth and he’s the Queensland skipper,”
Slater said.
“It’s good to see all our players in form [and] we know what [Cameron] Munster’s capable of.”
The Queensland team rallied around Cameron Munster. (Getty Images: Cameron Munster)
After the Maroons victory in last year’s decider, Slater and Munster shared a special on-field moment that will go down in State of Origin folklore.
Surrounded by cameras in the middle of Stadium Australia in Sydney, Slater consoled his captain as he broke down in tears.
As Queensland chases back-to-back series wins, Munster will tonight return to the very same venue, still thinking about his late father and knowing the Blues will be desperate for redemption.
All eyes were on Cameron Munster before, during and after last year’s decider. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
“Series are always different [and] last year was a bit of a different story … a bit more motivation,”
Munster said.
“I guess for us they’ve got a point to prove, especially at home, and they’re going to come here [Game III in Brisbane] and try to spoil the party.”
The final say
Steven Munster loved sports, loved his footy and loved his family.
He would always call his son before big games and offer some honest fatherly advice.
The late Steven Munster, wife, Debbie, and son Cameron after Melbourne’s 2017 grand final win. (Supplied: Danielle Kersnovske)
That phone call this week came from his mum.
“Steven has always said Cameron got there on his own,” Ms Munster said.
“He knows his job, and he’ll just go out there and give it his all and make sure that when he walks off that field, he can say that he tried.”
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