Watch: How Munster became king of the arena that Cleary’s failed to conquer

A surprising ally has thrown himself into Nathan Cleary’s corner, with Maroons veteran Ben Hunt condemning criticism of the champion halfback’s inability to guide NSW to victory in State of Origin deciders.

While Queensland captain Cameron Munster has won three of four game three clashes when the series has been locked at 1-1, Cleary’s 0-3 record has been the lone mocker of his glittering career.

That pressure will be dialled up after the Penrith superstar missed 10 tackles in the Blues’ 44-24 game two loss. But even when asked about his own success, Munster simply said, “I get lucky”.

Hunt, who earned the last of his 20 Origin caps in 2024, launched an impassioned defence of the four-time premiership-winning Cleary ahead of the July 8 showdown at Suncorp Stadium.

“He’s a bloody tough player to criticise, to be fair. You can say he can’t win deciders, but jeez, there are 13 blokes out there on the field,” Hunt said.

“He’s a superb player, and in that arena, he’s played some outstanding games in Origin, so I don’t know why you keep putting pressure on him and having cracks at him in the media.

“He’s one of our premier players in the game, and he always has been.”

This masthead broke down the history of the rivals in Origin deciders, and how it has shaped their legacies.

2017: Munster’s first magic touch

Munster attempted to stress this win was written for him, entering game three without any pressure from expectations, alongside modern-day greats Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk in the play-making spine.

“There wasn’t a whole heap of noise around myself, everyone was probably not expecting me to play the way I played,” Munster said.

“I did have three of the best players in their positions we’ve ever seen, so I probably did get carried a little bit in that game.”

Munster’s instinctive nature ultimately turned the tide as he filled the void left by an injured Johnathan Thurston.

The five-eighth laid on two of Queensland’s four tries – his first with a linebreak and running pass for Valentine Holmes, before his scything run and offload for Jarrod Wallace sealed the contest.

He ran for 148 metres and six tackle busts from 12 carries of the football to clinch a 22-6 win.

2019: The lone Munster defeat

Munster left Queensland’s 38-6 thumping in game two, labelling his performance “terrible”. He was shifted to fullback, but a final-minute try from Blues counterpart James Tedesco delivered NSW the shield.

It remains Munster’s lone defeat in a decider, in which he ran for 185 metres – including a linebreak and seven tackle busts – in the 26-20 heartbreaker.

His missed tackle on a runaway Damien Cook, who scored, was a blemish, while his kick out on the full in the 46th minute laid the foundation for Tedesco to cross for his first of two tries a few minutes later.

Munster was never going to let that dictate his Origin story. According to his Maroons teammate Harry Grant, that is what made him the ultimate leader.

“I think we do see a lot of freakish play from Cam that sometimes not many people could do, or wonder how he did that,” Grant said.

“But I think for me as a teammate, I just love the competitor that’s in him, but also the way he sets his game up by doing the little things well.”

For Cleary, his series was cut short by an ankle injury in the first half of game two.

2020: Cleary’s first hurdle as Munster shines

This was the Queensland team dubbed the worst Origin side of all time. Munster would finish with the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series.

“It just ended up coming together – I think [coach] Wayne Bennett was the master out of that, who let me play my game,” Munster said.

“You want to be in the big games, you want to test yourself against the best.”

This was also Cleary’s first chance to spearhead a series win, having pulled the strings in a clinical 34-10 victory a week earlier. But in the final hit out at Suncorp Stadium, it all fell apart as Queensland won 20-14.

Cleary was hardly a slouch – running for 98 metres, putting up the bomb that was fumbled by Queensland and gifted Tedesco a try, and kicking for a whopping 634 metres, including a 40/20.

But Munster was a constant running threat (113 metres), while taking the bulk of the kicking duties from halfback Daly Cherry-Evans (423 metres) and setting up a crucial try for Edrick Lee.

The clash also happened to be Grant’s debut, and he managed to score the decisive try.

“I think for me, it’s not really getting caught up in the occasion,” Grant said.

“We all know what’s on the other side of it, and I think as much as we can, as players, [we have] to bring it back to what brings our best game to life, what sets our best game up.”

2022: Cleary’s agony as Dearden emerges

Munster was ruled out of the decider after he tested positive to COVID-19. However, 2022 almost marked the unveiling of Tom Dearden as a bona fide representative star.

Dearden was a lethal running threat – charging for 103 metres while laying on the first try of the match for Holmes.

Cleary’s delicate grubber for Jarome Luai levelled the scores, and he was valiant in running for 148 metres from 20 carries.

But in a moment that lives on in highlight reels, Cleary’s attempt to chip over the top in the dying stages was latched onto by Hunt, who strode 72 metres to the line to secure a 22-12 win.

“It’s still probably the career highlight. I don’t have to think about it too much. My young fellow plays it at home all the time, so I’m sort of looking over the shoulder watching it as well,” Hunt said.

“Origin’s the best arena there is in rugby league, and to have a moment like that to seal it for your state is definitely something I’ll always cherish.”

2025: Captain courageous

After entering the game three camp, Munster left after his father, Steven, suddenly passed away. He returned to inspire a 24-12 boilover in Sydney.

As Dearden wreaked havoc – scoring twice to clinch the Wally Lewis Medal – Munster pulled the strings, kicking for 523 metres as his bombs forced the Blues back to work tirelessly from their own end.

Despite the home advantage, Cleary failed to produce a try assist, a linebreak assist or a linebreak.

It is a feeling Munster does not want to experience.

“Holding the shield, I was lucky enough to do that last year, and to be able to do it on my home ground is something very special to tick off the bucket list,” Munster said.

“When you talk about pressure, there’s always that element of being the home team. You can read into the noise … but at the end of the day, it’s up to us to make sure we get our game on.”

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