For hooker Harry Grant, who scored a try and was outstanding in the 24-12 win over NSW on Wednesday night, it was also a display he hopes the Munster family will cherish forever.
Grant explained how inspiring captain Cam's display was just days after father Steven Munster died.
"A special effort it was. I can't speak for him, but I know how much his team means to him," Grant said.
"I know how much his team means to his family, but I know how much he means to us. And I think the effort that he showed to do what he had to do for his family, but then to also turn up and do what he had to do for his state, is pretty remarkable.
"Hopefully, for him and the whole family ... they can enjoy the rest of their lives and put something good out of such a bad situation."
Grant, who knew Steven Munster well after growing up in Rockhampton, said Cameron did his father proud by leading the team to a series win in such an emotional situation.
"Yeah, for sure. Cam Munster, he's a captain of a series-winning team now. He gets to lift the shield out at the end there. It's so important," Grant said.
"He's just a remarkable human that we all know he is. What a journey that it's been, this series, and to come away with a win, it's very enjoyable."
Prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui explained how the team found a way to channel grief in a positive way.
"We addressed it straight away and spoke about how we were feeling. We all had our moments and it all hit home for us," he said.
"It all put our own families back in our minds, and other boys might have been through situations like that before. It's very sad, but we just knew that we could channel our energy for the right things. We wanted to get a win for him and his family. So that one was for Stevie."
Queensland Rugby League boss Ben Ikin summed up Slater's wise decision to make Munster captain after former skipper Daly Cherry-Evans was replaced after the game one loss.
"He's probably best described as the unlikely captain," Ikin said.
"It hasn't been a straight line for Cam. It's been a whole lot of squiggles, but he is, without doubt, one of the more naturally gifted players we've ever seen in our game.
"He can do brilliant things, but at his core he cares. He cares about his own performance, because he cares about the team, and when he pulls on the maroon jersey, he cares about the history and he cares about what it means to the people of Queensland.
"Billy would have known that, despite all the rough edges, this is a bloke who sort of has gone through a bit of adversity, come out the other side, got his life in pretty good shape and given that leadership position was going to play better, try harder, do more, because of how much it meant to him.
"That's the essence of leadership … lead with your actions."
12°C