Cameron Munster fit and ready for Origin 1

Queensland Maroons five-eighth Cameron Munster has signalled his intention to play in next week’s State of Origin opener.

The Melbourne Storm star hasn’t featured for the club since their round nine demolition of the South Sydney Rabbitohs after suffering a foot sprain.

Munster has since revealed that he narrowly avoided surgery and a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

“I kept it pretty tight lipped at the start because I wasn’t quite sure where it was going to go,” he said at a press conference on Friday.

“I only trained Saturday and Sunday last week and that was the first time I ran in two weeks.”

Munster said he was very grateful to the Storm physios for helping him put his hand up for Maroon’s selection.

“It was 50/50, but somehow the physio’s got me up… and I am very lucky to have good support staff at the club.”

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The now seasoned Maroon’s veteran is entering his fifth State of Origin campaign, well aware how tough it will be returning from injury on the big stage.

“It is obviously going to be tough but at the end of the day I am going to do everything I can to play well on Wednesday,” he said.

“The lungs will obviously be hurting but every game you play Origin it always hurts, but I’m sure I will get some intensity in my legs over the next couple of days and make sure I am right.”

Munster has committed to representing his state this year, amending his normal training program in order to prove he is ready to go.

“I don’t usually do too much preparation or when it comes to training, I just usually run out on the paddock,” he said.

“But I’m obviously trying to do a bit more rehab this time around just making sure I’m 100 percent going into Wednesday and not giving any doubt in anyone’s mind and in our team that I won’t be able to go out there and do my job.”

New Maroon’s coach Paul Green has kept his starting 18 under wraps so far and with 20 players currently in camp not even Munster knows the final make-up of the side just yet.

“I’m not sure who is playing where to be honest, Greeny has been keeping that pretty tight lipped.

“I’m sure they will get the team sorted over the next couple of days and we will go from there and whoever plays in that Maroons jersey I am sure they will do their family and state proud.”

Despite being coy on selection, Munster gave Gold Coast Titans fullback AJ Brimson a glowing endorsement.

The young star made his debut in game one of last year’s series, and Munster believes his versatility could be invaluable considering the recent crackdown on head high contact.

“With all the head highs around the game and the way the refereeing has been going you never know who is going to be sent to the bin, so with AJ in the team he can play in the halves and also at fullback.

“He is going to be very vital for us and obviously once the big boys in the middle start tiring out, he’ll come on and be his elusive self and hopefully make some linebreaks and score some tries for us.”

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