Cameron Munster could miss Storm’s clash with Manly

Three Storm stars need to back up after Queensland’s Origin win, but illness has floored one of the victorious Maroons.

Cameron Munster is no certainty to back up for Melbourne. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Celebrations for Melbourne Storm’s Queensland players after their State of Origin win might not be the only factor keeping Cameron Munster out of his team’s clash with Manly on Saturday.

Munster has been in bed sick after returning to Melbourne and coach Craig Bellamy said he wasn’t sure if the superstar playmaker would be available for the clash with the Sea Eagles.

Winger Xavier Coates and hooker Harry Grant made up of the trio of successful Storm players in the Maroons outfit, and while Bellamy wasn’t sure if any would play, Munster remained the biggest query.

“I’m not a doctor so I don’t really know, I haven’t spoken to him to be honest. I’ve left him alone,” Bellamy said, confirming Munster was in until he said he was out.

“I’m not sure how bad he is or how sick he is. I haven‘t seen him at the end of the day, he’s a fit young man. He might recover in 24 hours, I don’t know.

Cameron Munster celebrates victory after game 2 of the State of Origin series. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“If he doesn’t, we know what we’re going to do if he doesn’t play.”

Bellamy said he would leave it up to Grant and Coates to decide if they wanted to play.

“They’ve celebrated a little bit as well. They are all back. We’ll see if they can back up,” he said.

“We know how hard it is to back up again and we are not going to put any pressure on them. It’s their decision … we trust them to make the right decision for them but also for our team.”

Jonah Pezet substituted for Munster during Origin camp and is included in Bellamy‘s extended squad.

Harry Grant may back up against Manly. Picture: John Gass

Bellamy said the Storm took no pleasure in a season-ending injury to Manly talisman Tom Tom Trbojevic despite it helping Melbourne’s chances after being “bashed” by the Sea Eagles when they last met.

Queensland and Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans is expected to play in the clash at AAMI Park but Bellamy is more concerned about his own team.

“We need to play our footy, the way that we think we’re the best chance of winning games with,” he said.

“That night, we looked like we were never in the game but we were only 10 points behind at the end.

“There was some parts of the game that we hung in really well.”

The Storm was beaten 16-8 by Manly in round 7 at Brookvale Oval, a second-straight loss to the Sea Eagles.

Originally published as Cameron Munster could miss Storm’s clash with Manly