By Justin RouillonThursday 9 Jun 2022SportReading Time: 2 minutes
Main Image: Cameron Munster bamboozled the Blues in Game 1 of the State of Origin Series (nrl.com)
In the wash up following Queensland’s hard fought 16-10 victory over New South Wales in Origin’s opening encounter, the beers would have been going down fast and aplenty.
But for Queensland five-eighth and man of the match Cameron Munster, he was happy to turn his back on a boozy celebration.
After tearing up the Blues team in attack, and dishing out a number of clutch plays in defence, the Storm playmaker has credited his performance with an alcohol ban he placed on himself over the off season.
The new look Munster comes after his seven figure contract was almost torn up following the Melbourne Storm white powder incident following last year’s NRL season.
Receiving a $30,000 fine from the NRL, Munster was hit even harder by the Storm, imposing a ban on alcohol, fining him $100,000 and dropping him from the the club’s leadership group.
It was then that he realised with a partner and baby on the way, he needed to take matters further into his own hands, after admitting a gambling addiction had also cost him $50,000 in just one day.
Munster spent a month in the Banyans Health and Wellness Centre in Queensland and told AAP overnight that his new lifestyle was reaping rewards on the field.
“Not drinking, being fitter (means I’m) a little more present in games and training,” he said. “Giving a lot more to the younger boys coming through, a bit more guidance, I’ve been getting a lot more kicks out of that.”
He also said that he hasn’t missed the way things used to be before becoming a teetotaller.
“It’s been easy, it doesn’t faze me … I haven’t had an urge or feel like I’m missing out.”
Queensland now take a one game lead into the best of three series, with Game 2 to be played on neutral territory in Perth on June 26, before the series finale in Brisbane on July 13.