Cameron Munster, captain of the Queensland Maroons, has assured fans that he is expected to be ready for the first match of the 2026 State of Origin series, despite having missed training over the weekend.
This weekend absence stemmed from a managed training schedule rather than any serious concerns, as Munster clarified during a media session on Monday.
"I'm just not used to doing back-to-back days. I'm getting a little bit older, so when you get a bit older, you understand your body a little bit more," he noted during the briefing.
He added, "Going out yesterday, I would be pretty sore today, so it's just a little bit of tightness in the body. We just thought as a group that it was probably the best thing for me."
Addressing speculation, Munster stated, "A lot of people probably think there's a little bit of mind games going on, but no, we just thought it wasn't ideal for me going and not doing yesterday because of the fan day and there was a lot of media around."
"If I had it my way, I would have loved to train," he mentioned, revealing that discussions with trainers led to the decision to prioritize his recovery for the upcoming match.
Munster confirmed, "It would be nice to be out there yesterday, but at the end of the day, I didn't want to feel sore and feel sorry for myself today. So I just made sure I'll be right for Tuesday and Wednesday."
If Munster is unable to play, Ezra Mam, who is listed on the bench, would step into the starting lineup, but that seems improbable.
Despite injury challenges in recent seasons, Munster has been mostly fit this year, showcasing a resurgence in form after a slow start to the campaign.