But in the opinion of Cameron Munster, that's the basic explanation for why the Blues secured an emphatic 50-6 victory over the Maroons in Townsville.

As hard as is it to admit, it's also an attitude deficit that Munster and his teammates are determined to make up for when they face the Blues in a must-win game two at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

"At the end of the day, rugby league and Origin's about desire and effort and we just didn't have any of that in the first game," Munster said.

"They wanted it more. They ran harder, they tackled harder. That's rugby league.

"It's a simple game and if you're not running harder than anyone else, they're obviously going to run over you.

"It's just desire mate, that's what we need. We need all our 17 players to run harder than them on Sunday."

Munster admits upon reflection he shouldn't have played in Townsville as he was still battling a foot injury that had sidelined him since early May.

Having regained his fitness and form in the NRL with Melbourne over the past two weeks, leading the Storm to big wins over the Warriors and Wests Tigers, the 26-year-old is itching to set the record straight.

"I don't like to make too many excuses but being a month out of footy and then expecting to play your best footy in the first game of Origin, it's probably pushing it a bit," he said.

"My ambitions probably got mixed up with my emotions ... I just need to make sure that I get myself right which I'm 100 per cent fit now, can't complain.

"There's no excuses so I'm ready to go."

Munster is also excited for the Maroons to unleash teenage debutant Reece Walsh.

The 18-year-old may have only played seven games of first grade but Munster sees a bit of a kindred spirit in the fullback in terms of his natural confidence and game-breaking ability.

"He's a confident kid, bit like myself when I was coming through," Munster said.

"Really excited on the way he's going to obviously approach the game and I mean he's got a bit of X-factor about him which was what we wanted in that team.

"You lose Kalyn Ponga but then you also get Reece Walsh in the team so it's a good little addition."

The Maroons will have a second training session at CBUS Super Stadium on Thursday with forward Jai Arrow expected to join the team after being hospitalised to receive treatment for an arm infection.

Australian Associated Press