Cameron Munster’s match-winning field goal against South Sydney wasn’t exactly a rehearsed Melbourne move.
In fact, Storm skipper Cameron Smith said he’d had hardly ever seen Munster practice kicking field goals, despite the five-eighth nailing one from over 30 metres out to clinch their NRL qualifying final with a 29-28 victory.
“He doesn’t tend to practice those things a lot and I don’t see him do any extras on that part of his kicking,” Smith said after the AAMI Park match.
“I think he has a few cracks in the warm-up on game day but that’s about it.”
Smith said the ability to pull off such a kick under pressure showed what a natural and valuable talent the 23-year-old was.
“Cameron’s a guy who just has a natural talent and the ability to make those things happen,” Smith said.
“He has a feel for the game.”
Smith revealed there was no plan going into the set, with four minutes remaining in the match, that Munster would attempt the field goal.
“That wasn’t even called until last minute – it was whoever played that ball, as they were getting to their feet that field goal was called,” Smith said.
“It just showed that he can sense that he had an opportunity to have a crack and he whacked it – it wasn’t the prettiest field goal but it floated over and we got the result.”