Lockyer reacts to Origin interview blow-up

Darren Lockyer has defended Cameron Munster over a blunt half-time interview that sparked strong criticism from fellow Queensland Origin great Cooper Cronk.

Munster told Lockyer on Nine midway through State of Origin II that Queensland were "not very in sync" and "a lot of players are doing different things". He added: "We need to have a bit of a chat at half-time and just f–king make sure we get to our spots because they're obviously getting over us and we had some opportunities there where we didn't ice them."

NSW led 18-0 at half-time and Lockyer asked Munster how Queensland intended to create some good ball.

"They're told pre-game that they're the ones that are going to have to do the half-time interview," Lockyer said on Wide World of Sports' QLDER.

"I think most of us want them to be transparent. I asked the question and he answered it, and I thought he was pretty honest. I can't see anything wrong with it."

Cronk said that Munster should not have been critical of his side during the interview. He said something had clearly gone wrong on the field.

"That is something that shouldn't come out of one of your gun players in a half-time chat in an Origin game, so something has gone down," Cronk said on Fox League.

Queensland icon Lewis said that Cronk's reaction to Munster was harsh.

"I thought that was a little bit hard, the criticism that came their way. He was [honest]," Lewis said on QLDER.

"He said make sure our timing is right, we weren't very in-sync at that time and a lot of the players are doing different things, calling out plays, and unfortunately it's not getting there. We're going to have to have a chat at half-time just to make sure our spots are OK because they're getting all the way over us, they're too powerful. We had some opportunities but we didn't ice them, we need to make sure that we do. That's just a pretty natural line at half-time.

"To be honest, when you're getting interviewed at half-time, you're walking off, the first thing you want to do is get in the sheds and talk to your friends, your teammates, talk to the coach and get over as quickly as possible. I don't think they're trying to evade the question at hand, they know that it's a pretty difficult issue and Munster was one of the guys that were handed the responsibility of being the playmakers."

Cronk was also critical of how Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans reacted to the loss in his post-match interviews, saying that he hadn't taken ownership of the result.

"There was zero conviction there," Cronk said.

"If I'm DCE, I put my hand up as captain and halfback and say, 'It's not all on me but a large percentage is on me because I didn't tell this person to get to this position or I didn't have my lead runners right'.

"For me the lack of motivation – and this is Origin, you're playing at Suncorp – I've run out at Suncorp and there's enough motivation in that roar when you run out onto that field.

"You lost, there's nothing wrong with owning it and vowing to fight your way back next year."

Lockyer said that the Maroons leadership' was not solely on Cherry-Evans. The champion former Queensland captain denied that there as a lack of leaders in the team.

"In terms of leadership, look, we've got Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans there leading the backs and you've got Christian Welch, Josh Papali'i leading the forwards. I don't think there's an issue there at all," Lockyer said.

However, Queensland have lost the opening two Origin games – and hence the series – by a combined score of 76-6.

Lockyer said that the absence of spine stars Kalyn Ponga and Harry Grant had hurt, though NSW were ultimately the stronger team.

"I'm not making an excuse but our depth is being tested right now," Lockyer said.

"Had Kalyn Ponga played in both games and Harry Grant in both games … I don't think it changes who wins and loses the game but it maybe gets closer. You look at NSW, they played extremely well both game one and two and all their best players were available."

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