Cameron Murray’s head-spinning recovery for South Sydney and NSW teammates

On Wednesday, it’ll be three weeks since the South Sydney skipper went under the knife for shoulder surgery that initially threatened his State of Origin spot for game one.

Instead, he missed just two weeks for the Rabbitohs, punched out 61 minutes in a victory over the Wests Tigers on Saturday and was an instant pick in Brad Fittler’s side for Origin I in Sydney on June 8.

It’s an incredible turnaround for anyone else but Murray, who has become one of the NRL’s most professional players with his killer mindset.

“I’m definitely not surprised he was able to get back in time, he’s very professional about what he does, so the rehab wasn’t going to be an issue with him,” says Blues and South Sydney teammate Damien Cook.

“Players can be a bit hesitant but he threw himself straight at the first tackle, so I knew he was on.

“It just shows his leadership and how much it meant to him to get back to play for South Sydney. He did feel like he was letting the boys down.

“What he was going through and playing a few games in pain, a lot of the boys didn’t know, and it would have been a painful experience but he didn’t blink and didn’t let anyone know what was going on.”

Murray had a successful shoulder reconstruction after last year’s grand final but started to experience pain again; although as Cook says, he hid it from his teammates. The announcement that he’d need surgery came as a shock to many, because he’d bashed out 76 minutes in a loss to Brisbane days earlier while showing no signs of discomfort.

“You can talk to him and he’ll hide it a bit, but I knew there was a bit of an issue there,” Cook says.

“It just shows the leader he is, he puts his body through pain for the team and leads by his actions.”

His initial timeline for recovery was three to four weeks, but Murray’s mindset was so strong he knew he could get there faster. He was in a similar position last year, missing a month in the lead up to Origin with an ankle injury before making it back for the Rabbitohs the weekend Blues squads were picked. He went on to play all three games.

The year before he played just one Origin game before he was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Through constant setbacks he’s learned how to handle his body and when to push it.

“I try not to get too stuck in my head about [timelines], I just gave myself every chance,” Murray says.

“Hindsight is really good. Looking back, getting back the game before Origin and then getting through the Origin period with the ankle injury, I learnt a lot about my body and what it takes to get into the right mindset … physically as well to be able to tick everything off.

“I’m a little bit more experienced and dealing with a few injuries you get to know your body better and how you recover. The mental aspect on how to approach it is big as well. I’m lucky I’ve had a few things in the past to learn from and there’s less of a fear of the unknown when it comes to these types of things.”

Murray is one of the youngest captains in the game but has an old head on his shoulders. Deciding what type of player he wants to be has helped him find his focus, making his choices really easy.

“You focus on the player you want to be personally but how you want others to see you as well, especially transitioning into a captaincy role at the Bunnies and a leadership role there,” he says.

“You’re much more aware of how your actions impact other people.

“When people are seeing you being really disciplined with your rehab and recovery and they know you’re motivated to get out there as soon as possible, it sets the example for the kind of culture you want at the club but also the level of discipline and commitment you want for yourself and the players around you.

“The way I see it, it shows teammates you’re committed to them. They can see you’re doing everything you can and you’re not doing them a disservice by mucking around.

“You just grow up a little bit, you realise you’re a professional athlete and these are the things you need to do.

“It’s been a learning curve over the last couple of years, the highs and lows, I’m grateful for it and it’s put me in a good mindset. I’m better for all the obstacles I’ve had when it comes to injury.”

His calm head and toughness, combined with a lethal skillset and laser focus makes him the ideal leader for Souths, but also for the Blues.

Cook first met Murray as an 18-year-old kid when he joined Souths in 2016. He’s watched Murray go from shy teenager to elite NRL captain and one of the game’s top locks over the space of six years.

“He’s gotten better at what he does, but he’s always been really professional,” he says.

“He knows what he wants and it’s always been a goal for a long time and you can tell.

“He’s always in there early, doing his stretching and getting everything done. He never complains about anything either, he just rips into training and doesn’t blink.

“That’s all the stuff a leader needs. It was a matter of time for him. We saw the likes of Boyd Cordner captain at a young age and go on to win premierships.

“Boydy is one of the best captains I’ve been under and I have no doubt Cam is going to be one as well.”