NRL 2023: Cameron Munster rib injury latest, Roosters lose Brandon Smith, Victor Radley

CASUALTY WARD: Queensland and Melbourne star Cameron Munster has set alarm bells off in Camp Maroon after revealing the extent of a rib injury he’ll carry into Origin.

Munster has continued to push the Storm towards the top of the table, with painkilling injections keeping him on the field. Picture: Getty

Maroons maestro Cameron Munster has revealed he has been playing with a broken rib and cartilage damage and could require pain-killing needles to get through the State of Origin opener.

In a remarkable show of toughness, Storm coach Craig Bellamy said his star five-eighth had been secretly carrying a number of injuries in the wake of Melbourne’s 24-16 defeat of the Dolphins on Saturday night.

Bellamy refused to disclose the precise nature of the injuries, but Munster set the record straight, confirming he has rib problems that NSW defenders will surely target in Origin I at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday week.

Cameron Munster has been playing with a busted rib for a number of weeks now. Picture: Getty

Munster will be one of the first players chosen when the Queensland team is named Monday and following his Dolphins masterclass, the Maroons pivot said he has played through the pain barrier for the past five weeks.

“I’ve had a fractured rib and some rib cartilage damage,” he said.

“I also had some hyperextension in my elbow after contact with ‘Fuse’ (Felise Kaufusi on Saturday night).

“When I played against Manly, I fractured my rib and I’ve been getting referred pain to my ribs around the back, so I’ve been jabbing up (with pain-killing injections) and playing on.

“I’m not the only bloke in the game that’s carrying injuries and playing footy, so it’s part of the trade.

“I’m sure there’s a lot of blokes who are in contention for Origin who are underdone or worse for wear, but once you put that jersey on, the pain all goes away and you try and do your best for the state.”

Cameron Munster has been a standout for the Maroons. Picture: NRL Photos

Despite the injuries, Munster was outstanding against the Dolphins and the Storm five-eighth has consistently proven he is one of the toughest players in the code.

In the season opener against the Eels, the Maroons champion played through a compound finger fracture which required surgery and sidelined him for three weeks.

Rib-cartilage damage is one of the most painful injuries in the game - players usually take time out to treat the ailment - but Munster insists he is determined to play in Origin I.

“I’m in the wars at the moment but if I’ve done enough to get picked for Queensland, I will do everything I can to get myself right,” he said.

“It’s a badge of honour (playing through the pain) and you don’t want to show the boys that you are hurting.

Munster has continued to push the Storm towards the top of the table, with painkilling injections keeping him on the field. Picture: Getty

“But sometimes you do get the odd knock and start wincing. It’s my nature to carry on a little bit, it’s probably not as bad as it looks.

“I would love to get the good news and be part of another Queensland team.”

The Maroons desperately need Munster on deck in their quest for back-to-back titles and Storm coach Bellamy lauded the Test star’s toughness.

“He’s had a couple of injuries,” he said.

“Only slight ones that don’t stop him playing but they affected him earlier (in the season).

“I’m not going to say what he’s got, he’s had some slight injuries.

“I don’t want Billy (Slater, Queensland coach) ringing me up saying you are giving the NSW guys a bit of ammunition.

“They haven’t been major (injuries) but they have affected him at training and probably towards the end of the week.

Queensland coach Billy Slater can breathe a little easier. Picture: Getty

“If he hasn’t done any contact work, he is getting through OK, but this next 10 days will be really good for him and he will be back to full health.

“Going into Origin, he will have 10 or 11 days break and that will do him the world of good.

“I thought he did a great job (against the Dolphins).

“I just thought he really kept his head when we needed him to keep his head and sometimes for me he tries the impossible, but he was really controlled and I was really happy with his game.”

BUSTED CHOOKS: SMITH’S HEARTBREAKING ADMISSION

Injured Roosters star Brandon Smith has admitted he has hit the lowest point of his career as the high-profile recruit struggles for form and a major injury that will sideline him for two months.

An expansive Smith has opened up on his frustration at being unable to enjoy the football he displayed across six seasons at the Storm, while also declaring his determination to be the Roosters first-choice hooker.

The Kiwi international’s ambition has suffered a major setback with a broken thumb requiring surgery next week, which will sideline him for up to two months.

The loss of Smith has been compounded by leading forward Victor Radley facing a 3-4 match ban for a headbutt on St George-Illawarra forward Blake Lawrie.

Brandon Smith of the Roosters receives attention for his broken thumb in the match against the Dragons. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s not looking too good, I have to get surgery,’’ Smith said of the injury suffered against the Dragons on Friday night.

“It’s roughly eight weeks, according to our physios.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow. I’m gutted.

“I look at it as a massive opportunity for myself. I’m not where I want to be at and I’ve got six to eight weeks just focusing on myself.

“I’ll go through a plan of how I can use this to really better myself and hopefully the Roosters are in finals contention when I get back.’’

Smith has been met with scrutiny over his best position at the Roosters.

Originally signed as a dummy-half, Smith started from the interchange bench in his side’s last-minute loss to St George-Illawarra.

“This is definitely probably the lowest I’ve felt in my whole six years,’’ Smith told Triple M on Saturday.

“Not mentally. I’m still happy and all that. But just physically, I’ve been injured a lot and not performing.

“We get paid to perform, that’s our job.

“When I was at Melbourne, we didn’t have so many penalties and so many errors. We were the frontrunners, most times, but now we’re on the back foot and we have to learn to fight.’’

Asked if he was struggling with the fitness levels of playing hooker, compared to that of a lock-forward, Smith replied: “I’m probably fitter than I was in Melbourne.

“But when you go from being a 40-minute lock to a 73-minute hooker, it’s a massive difference and a complete change of role.

“I want to be the Roosters hooker.

“When I think back to the best season I ever had in 2021, that was me playing hooker, but I was already established at the club and knew everything about it.

“I’m still learning a lot (about the Roosters).

“Everyone when I moved to the club said that the scrutiny in Sydney is way more (than Melbourne).

Victor Radley has been hit with a grade one strike charge by the NRL match review committee. Picture: Getty Images

“In Melbourne, this media (scrutiny) never gets attention.

“It’s tough, but it’s (scrutiny) got nothing to do with my performance, it’s got nothing to do with my team’s performance.

“It doesn’t matter what happens outside of those four walls, you turn up to perform and you have to do that.

“And currently I don’t think a player in our team is performing to their ability – not one.

“We’re all in the wrong. ”I think we took a step in the right direction.’’

Radley has been hit with a grade one strike charge by the NRL match review committee.

He can escape with a three-match ban with an early guilty plea, or risk four weeks with an unsuccessful defence at the judiciary.

The temperament and emotional control of Radley has come under scrutiny throughout his career.

Smith said he hoped Radley would learn from the transgression.

“It’s about using that passion and aggression in a controlled manner and trying not to lose you temper and using it as an advantage,’’ Smith said.

”I know as well as anyone that he’s going to be ridiculously disappointed about this.

“But it’s the problem with trying to act like that. Its disappointing for the Roosters, but hopefully it’s another learning curve for Victor.

The loss of both Smith and Radley is a hammer blow for the Roosters who also reeling from the unavailability of Joey Manu (ankle), Daniel Tupou (hamstring), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (pectoral), Sam Walker (knee), Connor Watson (knee) and Paul Momirovski (shoulder).

Originally published as NRL 2023: Cameron Munster rib injury latest, Roosters lose Brandon Smith, Victor Radley