Queensland hero Cameron Munster has been told to close his mouth after an incredible halftime interview during Queensland's State of Origin humiliation on Sunday night.
The Maroons star failed to inject himself into the game as Queensland's attack fell apart on the back of a beaten up forward pack anda clunky divide between the Storm five-eighth and Queensland halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.
The Maroons captain fought back tears in an on-field interview after his side's demoralising defeat. Munster had different emotions.
He was unstoppable in the 2020 series, but looked dejected as early as halftime of Game 2 at Suncorp Stadium as his side went on to be thrashed 26-0 by NSW, coughing up a 76-6 series differential following on from Game 1's 50-6 hiding in Townsville.
Munster revealed his frustrations at halftime when conducting a brief interview — and his answer has seen him torched by Queensland legend Copper Cronk.
Cronk said after the game Munster should never have admitted his frustrations at his team's offensive breakdown.
Munster had told Channel 9's Darren Lockyer: "We are not very in sync at the moment.
"A lot of players are doing different things and we are calling up players and unfortunately it is not getting there so we need to have a chat at halftime and make sure we get to our spots because obviously they are getting over us."
Cronk couldn't believe the words that came out of Munster's mouth.
"That is something that shouldn't come out of one of your gun players' mouths"," he told Fox League.
Cronk reveals where it all went wrong for Queensland
Cronk said the ultimate responsibility for Queensland's attacking flop rests on Cherry-Evans and Munster.
"It comes down to the spine and the communicators," he said.
"When someone is being called there has got to be a few chiefs there — the one that is going to take the bull by the horns and dominate the calls. At the end of the day Munster is the go-to and you've got to create space for your go-to players."
Questions surround Cherry-Evans' Origin future
Daly Cherry-Evans of the Maroons reacts after losing game two of the 2021 State of Origin series. Photo / Getty
Cronk and a host of rugby league greats have put Queensland captain Cherry-Evans' future on the discussion table after the Manly playmaker struggled to find a way to dig Queensland out of trouble.
"There's no doubt there will be question marks over the halves," Cronk said. "I think Munster has the runs on the board because of what he did last year and what he does with his age going forward.
"Obviously Cherry-Evans has struggled, hasn't really dominated the Origin arena like some of the Queensland captains in the past. At the end of the day every one of the Queensland players let down the jersey and there will be repercussions.
"We spoke about the clunkiness when they had good ball and in the first half they got there but it looked lacklustre.
"No one was on the same page, they weren't moving together. In the second half they had a few opportunities but just didn't score."
It came after Blues legend Andrew Johns publicly questioned the Manly halfback's performance. "There's going to be a big debate about the halfback position with Cherry-Evans," he said in commentary for Channel 9.
Vautin's scathing review of Queensland
Maroons legend Paul Vautin has also written Queensland off ahead of Game 3, leaving Queensland facing the prospect of a 3-0 sweep.
"They may as well call off the third (game)," Vautin said.
Vautin repeatedly singled out Queensland's slow outside backs as the team's biggest weakness.
"I think we are a slow and sluggish team," he said.
"I really believe we just don't have enough pace and we were gone after 10 minutes, so it makes you wonder.
"There was no punch at the line. People were just trotting into the line. It was very, very disappointing. Quite deflating to sit there and watch what they produced tonight."
He went on to say he didn't have any answers for how Queensland can turn it around for Game 3, scheduled for July 14 at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
"I'm not sure where they go to. I'm not sure they have a lot of other players to pick from," he said.
"I hope Reece Walsh gets another chance and he is fit because he's the sort of player they need. They lack spark.
"I think we're lacking centres. (Kurt) Capewell got a bath again tonight. He did try hard. He tried really hard. Up against the best player in the game in Turbo (Tom Trbojevic), twice. Honestly, though, Turbo carved him up. He should be in the back row. We need to find some centres from somewhere, or make same.
"We've got no speed. There's nothing."
Maroons coach Paul Green got it wrong
Queensland's attacking self-destruction was a nightmare for debutant Origin coach Paul Green.
There are already questions about his future after overseeing such a disaster.
Future immortal Cameron Smith said the first step for Queensland must be for the team to throw out Green's game plan.
"For me, the Queenslanders need to go away now and they almost have to go away and find a new game plan. Really, they do," he said.
"A new style of football, because the way they've played in the first two, they have struggled to score points, they need points in Game 3 to be able to beat NSW and where they find that, I'm not too sure right now.
Maroons fans have already started pleading for Queensland to send an SOS to Wayne Bennett, who guided the state to an incredible upset series win in 2020.
