Cameron Munster is in a purple patch with his unlikely goalkicking heroics in this World Cup, but whether he continues in the final will depend on Reece Walsh’s groins.
The Melbourne magician, a free agent since November 1, said his entire focus was on winning the World Cup and would not be drawn on his club future.
Sunday’s final at Suncorp Stadium is expected to be a close contest with goalkicking possibly deciding the outcome, considering the Kiwis have the game’s best marksman in Jamayne Isaako.
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Munster has barely kicked for Melbourne in the past four years but has been nailing them like Hazem El Masri in his pomp with 11 goals from 15 shots with many of the attempts from the sideline.
He took over from Walsh in the 66-6 win over Cook Islands and continued in the 44-12 victory over Samoa in last week’s semi-final.
With regular NRL goalkickers Sam Walker and Latrell Mitchell not in the starting side, the duties have fallen to Munster and he has done a great job despite admitting he does not practise.
“To be completely honest, I don’t really like goalkicking,” Munster grinned.
“I just do it because we’ve got no one in our squad doing it at the moment.
“Reece is our number one kicker, so if he feels good enough to do it on Sunday, he’ll take over.
“If he pulls up a little bit lame on captain’s run with his groins, I’ll probably take over.”
Munster had one of his best games this year in the semi-final win over Samoa where he ran the ball superbly and was a real handful.
His 18 runs was the most for any Kangaroo and throw in his 146m and three try assists it is a positive sign for the hosts.
“When I am playing my best, it is when I’m running the ball. That’s the mindset and the aim for myself on Sunday,” Munster said.
“The game might not be the same against New Zealand. I’m sure they’ve got a plan around myself and I’m sure I’ll have to try and figure out a way to get around it.”
Munster made his Test debut for Australia in the 2017 World Cup when he played two pool games at centre and halfback. He did not play in the 6-0 win over England in the final, but was No.6 in Australia’s 30-10 triumph over Samoa in the 2022 World Cup final.
He has dared to dream about backing that up but said the process and not the outcome was on his mind as he attempts to enure the new players in the side get the satisfaction.
“I remember one of the boys, Jack Bostock, asked me the other day what it was like to win a cup,” he said.
“It’s something I’ve been very fortunate enough to be able to win, but these guys who have only just had their first World Cup, you try to give them that taste.
“You never know, four years’ time, who’s going to be able to be in the squad again.”
Munster said in a previous interview he would delay travelling to Papua New Guinea until a later date after postponing a planned visit to talk to PNG Chiefs before November 1 that had been approved by the Storm.
Whether he will head to Port Moresby in future was not a subject he wanted to address on Wednesday.
“I am just focused on the World Cup,” Munster said.
“My manager’s dealing with all that sort of stuff and once the back end of this World Cup’s done … he’ll sort that out, whether that’s an option. If not, then it’s not.”
