Queensland fullback Valentine Holmes has highlighted the importance of Cameron Munster, saying the Maroons need the five-eighth to be fit for next week’s State of Origin decider.
Munster will have to pass NRL protocols to be available for game three in Brisbane on Wednesday after displaying category-one symptoms of a concussion early in this week’s game-two loss to NSW in Sydney.
The 26-year-old’s head hit the turf as he claimed a kick in his own in-goal area in just the second minute of the match at ANZ Stadium.
Despte passing an off-field HIA check, Munster was ruled out of the remainder of the game after twice falling as he attempted to get to his feet.
It means the Melbourne Storm playmaker is in a race to prove his fitness before the series finale at Suncorp Stadium.
Holmes says Munster had been his normal “lippy” self since Wednesday’s loss and deserved to be given every chance to prove his fitness for game three.
“He has played in grand finals, Origins, big games. He is someone we definitely need to have,” Holmes said.
“He is an experienced player in our team and in the leadership team.
“We need him on the field.”
On Thursday the man responsible for the contact that put Munster on the ground, Tyson Frizell, avoided any charge for the incident despite concern he had hit the Queenslander in mid-air.
As well as not being charged, the NSW backrower was not penalised by referee Gerard Sutton at the time, and Holmes said it was tough to know if Frizell’s actions were fair or not.
“It looks like he was kind of contesting for the ball,” the North Queensland flyer said.
“They put a kick in and he wants to score, we want them not to score. He grabbed him and kind of threw him.
“He could have been going for the ball. It’s hard to pinpoint.”
The Maroons are expected to make several changes when coach Wayne Bennett names his 21-man squad for game three later on Friday.
Storm prop Christian Welch trained on Friday at Cbus Super Stadium and should return to the starting lineup after missing game two.
Gold Coast’s Moeaki Fotuaika or Canberra’s Dunamis Lui are the players most likely to drop out if the Melbourne man is included.
Welch’s premiership-winning teammate Brenko Lee is a chance to make his Origin debut after missing the first two matches due to a calf complaint, with winger Phillip Sami the most likely to make way.
Bennett has also hinted Harry Grant could be included, with the versatile youngster capable of covering a number of positions.