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Cameron Munster says NSW rookie Jarome Luai needs to prepare for a step up from NRL to State of Origin in next week's series opener in Townsville.
The NRL has been his playground for the past two years but Queensland are eager to show NSW rookie Jarome Luai that State of Origin is a whole new arena.
The Penrith five-eighth has waltzed into the Blues' camp on a high after forming a halves pairing with Nathan Cleary that has made the Panthers one of the most dynamic attacking forces in club football.
Luai and Cleary are two of six Panthers in the Blues squad, reflecting their amazing form which included 16 consecutive wins last season and 12-straight victories so far in 2021.
Queensland No.6 Cameron Munster has however delivered a veiled warning to Luai that things will be very different when he runs out at Townsville next Wednesday for his first Origin game.
"He's a good player. He's playing some outstanding footy," Munster said of his opposite number.
"I'm sure he'll go there with a lot of confidence and play the game that he knows he can play.
"We've just got to nullify his time and space and that's all you can do sometimes.
"You can go out there and say everything you want to do but actions speak louder than words and we need to make sure we go out there and just make him realise how hard the Origin arena is."
Munster has already had one big win over Luai, with Melbourne defeating the Panthers in last year's NRL grand final.
That premiership win sparked a huge end to the season for Munster, who defied a knee injury to then lead Queensland to a 2-1 series win in last year's Origin, winning the Wally Lewis Medal in the process.