Phil Gould has declares that Cameron Munster's absence from Queensland's line-up for the entire State of Origin series will even up the series after the Blues' loss of Nathan Cleary.
The five-eighth is set to spend 8-10 weeks on the sidelines after suffering a groin injury in Magic Round.
He faces surgery and will miss the entire Origin series after going down during Melbourne's triumph over the Eels.
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Now, with Munster no chance of featuring if any of the Origin clashes, Gould thinks the contest will be more even.
Cleary has also been ruled out for the entire State of Origin series with a hamstring issue.
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"I think the loss of Munster really evens it up. It really does," Gould said on Nine's 100% Footy.
"Munster and (Daly) Cherry-Evans are such an experienced Origin combination.
"They've really been the thorn in the side of the NSW teams.
"Cleary's missed a few Origin games in the last couple of years."
So who exactly will replace Munster when squads for Origin I are announced next Monday?
Gould is confident that Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam is the right man for the job.
"He's a player of the future, Ezra Mam. I think Billy Slater would like to see more of him at club level and probably playing some finals," he said.
"They've got a good choice up there."
Mam himself says he's keen to step in for the Maroons, if selected, to fill the massive void left by Munster.
"I wouldn't shy away from a challenge. It's a very high standard of football played in the Origin," Mam said.
"If I was picked, I'd take it with both hands and put my best foot forward for the state."
It was Mam's grand final hat-trick last year that should have Maroons selectors convinced he can perform on the biggest stage of all.
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But a humble Mam says his efforts last season were just a stepping stone in hopes of being selected next Monday for Queensland.
"It was a big confidence booster for myself, to be in a grand final in the first place is a big achievement," he said.
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