Storm star Cameron Munster eyes being NRL’s No.1 player

Melbourne star Cameron Munster has vowed to be relentless in his quest to be hailed the best player in rugby league.

Storm star Cameron Munster. Pic: Michael Klein

Cameron Munster has outlined his ambition to dethrone Roosters ace James Tedesco as the NRL’s No.1 player.

The Storm superstar has set his sights on steering Melbourne to back-to-back titles this season.

Munster underlined his class by winning the Wally Lewis Medal in Queensland’s epic Origin series win last November and now the freakish five-eighth wants to step up as Melbourne’s playmaking top dog in the post-Cameron Smith era.

For the first time in 20 years, Melbourne enter a new NRL season without the their champion skipper Smith, who is tipped to retire after captaining the Storm to the premiership last season.

In the past three seasons, the Storm have farewelled their much-vaunted Big Three of Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk, leaving the 26-year-old Munster as the main man to spearhead a new Melbourne dynasty.

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Cameron Munster is Melbourne's main man now Cameron Smith is gone. Picture: Brett Costello

While Munster is not driven by statistics, rankings and critical analysis of his standing in the code, the Origin and Test matchwinner vowed to be relentless in his quest to be hailed the best player in rugby league.

“It takes a lot of hard work to be No.1,” he said.

“It would be a nice little thing to my bow.

“You look at James Tedesco, he works really hard on his game and everyone touts him as the best player in the game and he deserves it.

“To be in the top four names would be nice.

Cameron Munster guided Queensland to an epic State of Origin win. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“I don’t want to go around chasing accolades. A lot of critics have opinions and that’s fine. I just have to play good footy for my club and if I do that, a lot of people will think it’s me (who is No.1).

“If I worry about what everyone says that I will be the best player in the game, I could go away from what works from me.

“Off the field, I have some stuff to work on. If I can still be a larrikin off the field and make sure I’m the same player on the field, hopefully I’m on the right path to being No.1.”

Cameron Munster is on his way to becoming the best player in the game. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

For all their dominance as the most consistent side of the past decade, the Storm have one summit left to scale – winning consecutive titles, just as the Roosters did in 2018-19.

“Hopefully we go back-to-back,” Munster said.

‘‘‘Bellyache’ (Storm coach Craig Bellamy) doesn’t like talking about it but if we want to stamp our authority on the game and be known as a good team, that’s something we can do.

“I can’t see why we can’t achieve it. The club has never gone back-to-back before.

“Hopefully we can do something similar to the Roosters but it will take a lot of hard work.’’