What Slater told Munster during their full-time Origin embrace

6 hours ago 3

Billy Slater embraced captain Cameron Munster, praised him for his “super-courageous effort” and told him his late father would be proud and to take extra comfort from knowing the last game his dad watched him play was one in which he captained Queensland to an Origin victory.

Munster woke up on Sunday morning to the news his father, Steven, had died, but immediately told Maroons coach Slater he would play in Wednesday’s decider against NSW.

Slater had lost his own father, Ron, in January and knew the importance of being around loved ones, and the emotions Munster was about to experience.

The embrace between the coach and captain in the middle of Accor Stadium is destined to become an iconic Origin image.

For all the headlines about Munster, it’s easy to forget Slater was still mourning the loss of his father, and that he would have given anything for Ron to have seen him coach his third Origin series victory.

As Slater stood to one side of the victorious Maroons’ sheds, he told this masthead: “Dad was in these dressing sheds this time last year.

Billy Slater and Cameron Munster share a moment at full-time.

“I’m extremely grateful for the time I had with dad in my life, and what he saw his son achieve. I know Steve will be the same with Cam.

“To know his boy captained Queensland, and to know his boy was captain of Queensland, and the performance he put in his last performance in a Queensland jersey that he watched his boy play [in Perth last month], that’s pretty special. And that will never leave Cameron.

“I was with Cam within five minutes of him finding out [of the news]. He was uncertain about everything. But he said, ‘Bill, I’m playing’. From that moment, I never considered any contingency plans, or anything other than Cam playing.

“I recommended he go home and be with his mum and sister. We booked him a flight, and he was on a flight within an hour and a half. I knew he had to be with family. This won’t leave him. He won’t wake up tomorrow and it [the pain] leaves him. This is a forever thing. He’ll never get to speak to his dad again. I feel that all the time.

Cameron Munster and Josh Papali’i celebrate Queensland’s series win.

“My dad was the person I spoke to most about footy, the person I spoke to most about what happens in this team. You can always want more. I’m really appreciative of what my dad witnessed during my career and my life. Cam is the same. Steve watched plenty of great moments of his son. It’s life, we all go through it, but it’s hard to take when we do.”

Pressed on what he whispered to Munster at fulltime, Slater said: “It was more about Cam, what he’s been going through, what he had overcome, and this moment now.

“He’ll never forget this. He’ll never forget it because of what’s happened, but also the fact it’s come off the back of his dad passing away. I don’t know. It was a super courageous effort. I’m so proud of him.”

When asked if he would have played if faced with the same scenario, Slater said: “I don’t live in a hypothetical world. You would never know until you’re put into that situation.

Cameron Munster in the sheds after leading his team to victory on Wednesday night.

“He’s a really good mate of mine. I played with ‘Mun’, we shared many great feelings and moments on the field for Melbourne and Queensland. I don’t know how he’s done it. Like I said, his dad would be super proud of him.”

Munster said after the game it had been an easy decision to play, and thanked Slater for encouraging him to break from camp to be with loved ones.

“He gave me an opportunity to go home first – family first - and I’ll be forever grateful for that,” Munster said.

“I was leaning towards not [going home], but Bill told me I needed to go home, and I’m so grateful he made me go home. The way the team got up for me, I’ll be sitting there when I’m 80 years of age, remembering 2025.”

Maroons teammates said they grew in confidence as soon as Slater assured them Munster wanted to play.

“As soon as Bill said he wanted to play Wednesday night, it instilled a confidence and belief in the group,” Valentine Holmes said.

Tom Dearden added: “It has been emotional, when you see one of your mates and teammates go through that, it’s devastating. It shows the character Cam Munster is, he turned up, and for him to come back and play for us – he knew we needed him – he’s a special captain and special part of Queensland. We all love him.”

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