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Joel Gould

Munster and DCE revive 1980s Alfie liaison: Lewis

Cameron Munster (l) has a 'yin and yang' liaison with Maroons halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans (r). (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Wally Lewis is reminded of himself when he watches Cameron Munster create havoc on the football field, and has a flashback to the late 1980s when he views his halves partnership with Daly Cherry-Evans.

Queensland five-eighth Munster will play alongside Cherry-Evans for the 11th time on Wednesday night in game three of the State of Origin series in Sydney.

Munster drew upon a Chinese philosophical concept of perfect harmony to describe the liaison.

"We are the yin and the yang," Munster said.

"Me and Chez are two different people and we mix really well. I am a bit out there. He is a bit reserved. We obviously complement each other.

"We have played a fair few games together for Queensland now ... and for the Aussies. We will get that combination going together again at training."

Maroons legend Lewis sees a mirror of himself in one respect when he watches Munster strut his stuff in the same No.6 jersey he wore with distinction.

"One part of Munster's game is very similar to mine," Lewis told AAP.

"I always had the belief that the best way to succeed is to create doubt in the mind of the defender.

"People often ask about the background to how I went about my attack. When I was running at the defence they would think they had an idea what I would do, but there was no certainty.

"First time you pass. The second time you run. The third time it might be a play or a kick ... and by the fifth or sixth time you can see them thinking, 'What the hell is he going to do this time?'

"Munster is the great creator of doubt in the opposition. He creates confusion in the defence and then it is game on. He creates distrust in the defender opposite him and doubt in the mind of the guy outside and inside him."

Lewis and his halfback partner Allan Langer ruled supreme in the late 1980s as of the great Queensland halves one-two punches in history.

"It was the same with me and Alf as what I see now with Munster and DCE," Lewis said.

"They know each other's games backwards and can predict what each will do. They have total trust in each other's game and absolute loyalty. That makes it a fantastic combination.

"The great thing about Alf was that it didn't matter what you wanted him to do ... he would do it anyway and produce his best.

"If Munster and DCE make a call it might not work every time but to have that total faith in each other is the most important feature."

NSW will play their third halves pairing of the series with Cody Walker recalled to partner Mitch Moses. In game two it was Jarome Luai and Moses. In game one it was Luai and Nathan Cleary, before Penrith maestro Cleary was injured.

"It is very difficult when you don't have stability in key positions," Lewis said.

"DCE has been the rock of that Queensland side for so long. He creates great stability in the side. It certainly makes you feel a lot more comfortable when you keep the same halves pairing."

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