Cameron Munster contract: Benji Marshall sent Melbourne Storm star text message to join Wests Tigers

The race for Cameron Munster’s signature is going into overdrive, with the Storm ace revealing Benji Marshall’s attempt to lure him to the Wests Tigers.

Melbourne superstar Cameron Munster has revealed the text message he received from Wests Tigers coach-in-waiting, Benji Marshall, to gauge interest about a shock move to Concord.

Munster is preparing for Saturday night’s massive NRL elimination final against the Canberra Raiders at AAMI Park, and also a life-changing decision on his playing future.

Despite the record-breaking offers from rivals to tempt him into quitting Melbourne, Munster insists he’s “not money hungry.”

The Queensland champion, 27, comes off contract after next season and will command offers worth $1.3 million a season. He has been strongly linked to Queensland expansion side the Dolphins, although recent reports suggested Melbourne had increased their offer to around $1 million a season.

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Cameron Munster will lead the Storm against the Raiders. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

In a wide-ranging interview, Munster also discussed the Sydney media’s treatment of the Storm and concerns about Melbourne’s pre-finals discipline, declaring: “We keep shooting ourselves in the foot.”

THE TEXT MESSAGE

Marshall, who will take over as Wests Tigers head coach from 2025, wanted to enter the conversation around Munster and fired off an ambitious text message to the Storm fullback.

“I am pretty close to Benji and I know he’s on the (Tigers) coaching staff. He messaged me and asked whether I would be interested. No money was mentioned or how long the deal was,” Munster said.

“He just asked whether I would give Wests Tigers a chance to come to the party. Benji did reach out but it wasn’t like: ‘This is what we would offer you, this is the deal we would give you and would you come?’

“Benji saw something in me. He expressed interest and asked whether they would be a club I would go to. Benji and I get on like a house on fire. There is mutual respect. He has obviously done a lot in the game and he’s trying to change the club to get back to the old days when he was playing.”

Asked to reveal his reply, Munster said: “I said: ‘Look mate I’ll have a think about it’. It wasn’t like I said: ‘Show me the money’.

“There is a lot of speculation about Wests Tigers poaching me. Supposedly (club head of football) Tim Sheens came straight out and knocked that on the head.”

THE FUTURE MOTIVATION

The money being bandied around for Munster is remarkable.

Munster though wants it known he isn’t driven by chasing big money – his prime intention is simply making his young family happy.

West Tigers coaching duo, Benji Marshall and Tim Sheens. Picture: David Swift

“It’s not about me being money hungry. Money’s not everything,” Munster said.

“You can see the richest people in the world aren’t happy because they’ve got too much money. The more money you have, the more you spend. People are all about money and buying power, it’s not at all for me.

“My partner (Bianca McMahon) is from Queensland. We’ve got a little bub (Jaxon) here. I’m just trying to do everything to make her feel comfortable and be what’s best for the family. It’s not about money whatsoever.

“It (his decision) will be about where I can play my best footy and doing what is best for my family. That’s all it is. It’s about what my partner wants, it’s not about me anymore.

“It’s not about the money – it’s about helping her out if we do want to have more kids. We’re weighing up what’s the best fit for myself but as a family as well.

“I’m also weighing up what ‘Bellyache’ (Craig Bellamy) is doing. You have to be happy with the coach they choose. I’ve been lucky enough to play in some good sides. I wouldn’t be able to get this money or get these offers if it wasn’t for Melbourne, the coaching staff or players around me.

“I have put everything on the backburner at the moment. The last couple of weeks have been pretty heated negotiation-wise. I felt like it crept into my game a little bit, in the back of my head.

“I know all year, there has been speculation and I have put it behind closed doors. But getting closer to the crunch, and more pressure in the games, I have decided to focus on playing some decent footy in the finals.”

STORM’S MEDIA SCRUTINY

Munster acknowledged the Sydney media may direct some additional attention and headlines towards Melbourne Storm — but he was unconcerned.

“It is what it is, unfortunately,” he said. “There is that wrestle stuff that comes out every year at finals time but everyone is used to it now.

Munster is the most sought-after player on the market. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“It wouldn’t surprise me if people or teams leak a bit of stuff to the journos at times to get (opposition sides) off their game. Every team does what we do but we just go a little further than it needs to be.

“Everyone has a job. The journos have to write the tough stuff and unfortunately the players sometimes have to cop criticism. The journos are trying to make a buck and sometimes they step on people’s toes. Everyone has an opinion – I just cop it on the chin.

“We’re in a non-rugby league town. I know when we come to Sydney, rugby league is all over the back page, even the back ten pages. For us in Melbourne, it (coverage) is usually in the classifieds.”

Munster said he was attempting to improve his already elite performances by talking with Storm and Maroons great Billy Slater.

“I think there is a lot of improvement in me,” Munster said. “Maybe get a bit more consistency and be around the ball more. I have some nice touches and glimpses, I’m a lot fitter this year and my decision-making is a lot better than previous years.

“Things tend to happen for me when I’m around the ball a bit more. I’ve been speaking to Billy Slater. I have a nice touch and then probably sit back and watch the next play. I need to get back into it and get my hands on the ball again – double-up my plays.”

FINALS CAMPAIGN

Melbourne finished fifth this season – a rare top-four failure – and face an in-from Canberra on Saturday night. Munster knows his side must improve its discipline to overcome the Raiders.

Cameron Munster and his partner, Bianca McMahon.

“There are a lot of statistics and records that show not many teams have won from outside the top four since the Tigers in ‘05,” Munster said. “But we’ve still got the belief and the calibre of players to go deep into the finals.

“It’s just a matter of whether we really want it. We can give it a red hot crack. It’s just that consistency that we’re lacking. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Asked whether this era at Melbourne was ending with the imminent departures of Brandon Smith, Felise Kaufusi and the Bromwich brothers, Kenny and Jesse, Munster said: “It’s not ideal losing a lot of experienced players but, in saying that, it eventually happens to teams.

“Melbourne has been great at redeveloping and bringing younger players through. I know when the ‘big three’ (Cam Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater) left, everyone was putting question marks on whether we could still compete with other teams.

“I know we haven’t been successful in holding the trophy but we’ve always been in the top four other than this year.”

Munster claimed his side was preparing for a tough and fierce battle against the Raiders.

“They are a tough footy team. They have big forwards and have Jack Wighton playing some really good footy. We have to play our best,” he said. “I know they beat us here (at AAMI Park) last time. We have to take our opportunities. They will scramble and be in our faces.

“Canberra will try to rattle us so we have to make sure we’re up for the fight because if we dip our toe in, it could be close to curtains.”