Cameron Munster considering appealing 12-month Origin ban

CAMERON Munster is considering appealing his 12-month Origin ban following news that 10 Emerging Maroons broke curfew.

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CAMERON Munster will consider appealing his 12-month ban as Melbourne turned up the heat on the Queensland Rugby League over an alleged Emerging Origin camp cover-up.

An investigation by The Courier-Mail can reveal 10 players broke curfew on the alcohol-fuelled night that led to the suspensions of Munster and Valentine Holmes.

But despite half the 20-man squad breaching team protocol to party in Brisbane’s CBD, just two offenders – Munster and Holmes – have been sanctioned by the QRL.

New Maroons coach Kevin Walters insists the probe is not over yet and has vowed to slap further bans on any other player found guilty of defying the Emerging Origin camp’s traditional midnight curfew.

But the investigation reached a flashpoint on Wednesday night with Storm CEO Dave Donaghy firing an email to QRL hierarchy seeking a please explain over Munster’s treatment.

The Storm fullback will seek a right to appeal unless other Emerging Origin offenders are formally identified and punished by the QRL.

It can also be revealed a shattered Munster contacted Walters on Wednesday calling for a thorough QRL investigation.

“I’ve written to the QRL regarding the matter,” Donaghy told The Courier-Mail.

“Cameron did the wrong thing and he knows that, and we support the position the QRL took around its team rules.

“But at the same time while his timing wasn’t great, it’s important to note he broke team rules, not the law.

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“I have no doubt he will bounce back from this because he’s a great kid.”

Munster, the Storm sensation rated the next Billy Slater, confessed to breaking curfew to Walters.

But sources close to Munster say the 21-year-old feels he has been made a scapegoat when other camp colleagues, some closer to Origin selection, have escaped punishment for the same misbehaviour.

Storm officials are also questioning how Munster could receive the same 12-month ban as Holmes, who was arrested and fined $1412 for public nuisance and obstructing police.

The drama is Walters first test as Queensland coach.

The Courier-Mail has obtained intimate details of the most controversial night in Queensland’s 15-year Emerging Origin history.

It can be revealed one Maroons hopeful used his personal car to ferry four teammates to two establishments in Brisbane’s CBD.

The player drove two colleagues after midnight to the Story Bridge Hotel, where the squad had initially met for drinks earlier on the Saturday night in question.

The same individual then dropped Munster and Broncos star Anthony Milford at the GPO Hotel before driving back to the team’s Robertson Gardens hotel at Mt Gravatt.

Five other players, including Roosters prop Dylan Napa, Holmes and Souths’ Chris Grevsmuhl, also broke curfew and travelled into the city after catching cabs outside the team hotel on Kessels Road.

The QRL could hand out informal bans by simply not selecting players they suspect of being involved in the curfew breach.

QRL officials want all players who ignored their rules to pay a penalty but will not ban a player unless they have concrete evidence.

However, that doesn’t mean the group of players who snuck out of their hotel to Fortitude Valley won’t face consequences as they could be informally banned via a selection blackout.

Munster has been rubbed out of Origin for 12 months.

The reaction to the scandal has been severe in club land, with already nervous chief executives now questioning whether there is value in releasing their best young players to camps like Emerging Origin when it is obvious they are more likely to play up without fear of retribution.

Players view the camp as a bonding experience where they can get away with behaviour they can’t at their NRL club.

A standoff between club and state could be the result of the foolishness of this group.

Walters denied claims of a QRL cover-up and said more bans would follow pending his own investigations.

“I’m not hiding anything or protecting anyone,” Walters said. “If more evidence comes to light and I find something out in a month’s time, then I will act accordingly.”

QRL chairman Peter Betros said the Storm would need to present evidence of more players breaking curfew in order for the governing body to act.

“The are only two players involved,” Betros said.

“No evidence has come to us about any other players involved.

“If down the line something comes to light then we will act but we are not aware of anyone else.”