Murphy’s exemplary, though maybe a brute (5)
I believe the answer is:
tuber
'murphy's exemplary' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'maybe a brute' is the wordplay.
'maybe' is an anagram indicator.
'brute' is an anagram of 'TUBER'.
'though' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tuber that I've seen before include "A potato, for instance" , "Potato maybe" , "or still vegetating?" , "Potato, for example" , "Eg, dahlia root" .)