27/05/2026
When Maroons Captain Cameron Munster runs out onto the footy field tonight, one of his biggest supporters, his sister Danielle, will be nervously pacing the floor at home in Sarina.
But both she and the Maroons side have the full support of her colleagues at the Sarina Hospital as they tackle the Blues in the series’ opening game.
The Melbourne Storm five-eighth has actually credited his younger sister Danielle, who is originally from Rockhampton but now lives in Sarina and works at the local hospital, for teaching him to never be intimidated by anyone.
"To be completely honest she was probably a better footy player and touch player than me at the time," Cameron said of his little sister.
"She threw a better ball than me. It was good to have her beside me and made me toughen up. She used to bash me when I was a kid. She was younger than me too.”
While their mum will be in the 80,000-strong crowd cheering on Cameron and the Maroons tonight, Danielle (who is 18 months younger) will be nervously watching the game at home.
"I hope we put 40 [points] on them," she said.
"Dad will be whipping him home [up in heaven] if he makes a line break, I can tell you that …. they'll probably be able to hear me cheering from Sydney."
The siblings’ father, Steven Munster, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 58 in July 2025.
Despite the devastating loss just days before the State of Origin decider last year, Munster bravely chose to play in the match, dedicating the emotional series-clinching victory to his late father.
Danielle said the closely bonded siblings missed their dad's phone calls before and after games.
"It was a tough on a Friday night last year when Melbourne got up over the Sharks," she said.
"You sit there waiting for him [dad] to call to boast about it, but he didn't."
Danielle said their dad, a former champion sportsman in his own right and keen horse racing enthusiast, always had a few tips for her older brother.
"He'd be telling Cameron to back himself, hold the ball, do what he does best …. and for God's sake, tackle," she said.
QUEENSLANDER! 🏈 ⭐
📷 Sarina Hospital staff back from left, Fiona Hol, Nat Dorsa, Danielle Munster and Sonia Wright, and front, Tania Adda, hospital patient Patrick Daley and Vashti McFadzen.
