EXCLUSIVE: Sam Thaiday urges Maroons to 'pick and stick' with Cam Munster despite club form

Queensland great Sam Thaiday has squashed suggestions Cameron Munster should be dropped for this year's State of Origin series opener, urging coach Billy Slater to pick the incumbent five-eighth and captain despite his struggles in club land.

Munster's spot has come under the microscope in the middle of Melbourne's seven-game losing streak, despite leading the Maroons to victory last year.

READ MORE: Coach Whisperer saw Haas blow coming

READ MORE: Slater's scary call on 'ruthless' Roosters

READ MORE: Fears of Panthers exodus grow

The 31-year-old is facing pressure from the likes of Sam Walker and Ezra Mam for game one of the series, with Tom Dearden expected to wear the No.7 jersey once again.

But according to Thaiday, who played 29 games for the Maroons during a dominant era that included eight-straight victories, selectors would be wise to stick solid.

"At the end of the day, we're a squad that's been known for picking and sticking," he said on Wide World of Sports' QLDER.

"I think Dearden is a shoo-in, he's been playing some fantastic football up there at the Cowboys at the moment and is really leading that team around.

"Cameron Munster's our captain, of course we're gonna pick him.

"Yes, he's playing in a team at the moment that isn't winning, but if you watch the vision of him playing, he's still a standout player for his team.

"You talk about someone that's Queenslander to the core, he got his opportunity last year to captain and he led by example.

"There's no question at all that those two guys are our halves and should be selected."

Munster is one of Queensland's all-time greats and has delivered in the game's toughest arena for the better part of a decade, with his famous 2020 heroics and last year's emotional triumph days after losing his father going down in Origin folklore.

This season has presented the toughest challenge of his Storm career, however, with the powerhouse club languishing towards the bottom of the NRL ladder.

Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Harry Grant is another player whose spot has been questioned due to Melbourne's slump, but it's hard to imagine a world where he doesn't wear the No.9 jumper.

Thaiday likened the current situation at the Storm to one of his former Maroons teammates and doubled down on Munster remaining at the helm.

"We can almost call it the Nate Myles' pick at the end of the day," he said.

"For many years and especially towards the end of Nate's career, he was at the Titans and they weren't playing great, but you knew if Nate was put in [he would perform].

"When you put that jersey on, you lift and become a different beast. Those guys' club form isn't great, but hopefully Billy is on the phone making the Nate Myles' call."

There have been countless other times Queensland have opted to pick and stick with incumbent players regardless of club form, with Johnathan Thurston another example.

"A lot of time through JT's career, the Cowboys would struggle and he would come out and brain it for Queensland," Nine's Adam Jackson said.

"It's not that much of an anomaly what's happening with Cameron Munster and the Storm at the moment."

The series will kick off on Wednesday, May 28 at Sydney's Accor Stadium.