Munster used to get Oates out, now he tries to get him in

Cameron Munster used to get Corey Oates out at cricket more often than not when they were youths but now the Maroons winger is backing Munster to get him a try or two at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

Munster attended Emmaus College and Oates went to St Brendan's College but it was the former that was celebrating when they clashed on the pitch.

Oates was a powerful and prolific left-handed batsman and tagged for a career in T20 cricket but had his eye on cow corner too often when Munster came on to bowl his left-arm seamers. A late-swinging yorker would often undo Oates as he fell victim to Munster magic.

"We did a lot together back in Rockhampton and played footy and cricket together," Oates told NRL.com.

"Cameron was a left-arm bowler and could move the ball around a lot. When we played each other at school he'd get me out most times.

"I was a bit of a slogger and he used to know that. I was a left-handed batsman and I always struggled against left-arm bowlers with the angle.

"He used to get me out, but now I want him to get me in and throw that ball right on my chest. He loves a cut-out ball and he is really good at them."

The pair forged a great rapport playing rugby league for Norths Knights in the junior grades where Oates would hang off Munster's every move.

Oates scored a crucial try in Queensland's 18-14 win over NSW at Suncorp Stadium in Origin I from a sublime Kalyn Ponga cut-out pass, as he has done in club football this year on the end of Darius Boyd passes.

Don't be surprised if Munster adds to the list on Sunday with a ball that swings right into Oates's bread basket.

"It is pretty good playing footy with Cameron again. It is a long time since we lined up together at Norths in Rockhampton," Oates said.

"I was playing back row and running off him. Honestly, he has not changed the way he plays his football. He still backs himself always and has that strong running game.

"He was a bit smaller back then but still had the same fend and the same step. He's just got stronger.

"You just hope that he is on and most of the time he is. When he is laughing and having a good time in the sheds you think 'this is going to be a good game'. I am always confident when he is being himself."

Oates is optimistic about the potential of the Maroons' left side of himself, Michael Morgan and Felise Kaufusi.

"Having Morgs and Kaufusi on our side it is a pretty young edge but I am confident we can keep getting better and improving," he said.

"The key to it is keeping that combination together. That's when you trust each other a lot more and it makes life a lot easier.