Maroons star Cameron Munster can be 'one of the greats: Smith

As a five-eighth, Cameron Munster can become of the NRL's greats, according to future Immortal Cameron Smith.

Just imagine if he was playing in his best position.

Former Australian captain Smith said as good as Munster was at pivot, the Queensland star would shine at fullback.

Smith has saluted Maroons No.6 Munster ahead of Sunday's State of Origin II clash in Perth, congratulating the playmaker for his remarkable turnaround since losing his way in 2017.

But the former Queensland skipper reckoned it might pale in significance to what Munster could achieve at fullback.

"I still believe his preferred position is fullback," Smith said of his Melbourne NRL teammate.

"I believe that is his best position.

"But at this stage for Melbourne, he is six, doing a fantastic job there, and let's hope he has a blinder for Queensland on Sunday."

Still, Smith believed Munster would stake his claim as a rugby league legend if he kept wearing the No.6 jersey after overcoming the dark days of 2017.

Back then, Munster was almost sacked by Melbourne after being sent home from the 2017 Rugby League World Cup amid reports of a fight with teammate Ben Hunt on a boozy night.

After one of the great blasts from Storm coach Craig Bellamy, Munster was given a second chance by the club - and hasn't looked back.

Smith agreed Munster had come a long way since the cheeky Rockhampton product first lobbed at Melbourne.

"He had some rough edges as we all do when we are a bit younger," Smith said.

"You tend to make some rash decisions along the way. Cameron had a couple of those.

"But I think he has been really settled, particularly over the last 12 months.

"You can see by the way he has played his football.

"There's absolutely no reason why he can't become one of the great players of our game."

While Smith wondered what Munster might produce in the No.1 jersey, he was confident the Storm playmaker could forge one of the great Origin halves' pairings with Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.

The pair had a hard act to follow after replacing retired greats Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk who inspired Queensland's decade of dominance.

But Smith has liked what he has seen from Munster, 24, and 30-year-old Cherry-Evans after they had inspired Queensland's 18-14 game-one win.

"It's vitally important in rep footy to try and have some continuity there, particularly in those positions," he said.

"I know Daly is a little bit older but he still has plenty of elite football left in him.

"I can't see any reason why these two guys can't be together now for another few series."

- AAP