There are moments even Cameron Munster wonders what he will do next.

But only for a second, because in the blink of an eye he can turn a game inside out. He leaves defenders sitting on their heels. Those who lunge forward so often end with their ankles in a twist while their hands clutch at thin air.

Such is the sheer brilliance of the Queensland five-eighth, who has inspired the Maroons to a State of Origin series lead over the NSW Blues at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night.

“I think I play my best footy like that. Like we spoke about, that is where I play my best footy and I was lucky,” Munster told Nine’s post-match coverage.

Teammate Valentine Holmes couldn’t praise the five-eighth enough after the game, saying: “He’s the one that you have to be on your feet and ready to go and as soon as he gets the ball, something will happen.”

Munster was clearly the best afield in Queensland’s 16-10 win, but Pat Carrigan wasn’t far behind in a representative debut to remember.

Yet there was another debutant who is likely to take the lion’s share of the limelight. That would be coach Billy Slater, the former Queensland fullback who has come back for more after spending years terrorising NSW fans during an era of unprecedented interstate dominance.

Munster says the Maroons have rediscovered their sense of self-belief under the rookie coach.