Storm offer Cameron Munster professional help amid release rumours
MELBOURNE’s welfare staff are rallying around Cameron Munster as the Storm declared the Queensland Origin star will not be released.
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MELBOURNE’s welfare staff are rallying around Cameron Munster as the Storm declared the Queensland Origin star would not be released.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Munster is receiving in-house professional help as Storm powerbrokers do everything possible to ensure the 23-year-old delivers on his promise this season.
Speculation sweeping league circles on Wednesday suggested Munster could be cut adrift by the Storm over disciplinary issues, but Melbourne hierarchy are standing by the Kangaroos ace.
Munster is off-contract at the end of 2019 and the Storm are taking a wait-and-see approach before deciding whether to offer the Maroons five-eighth a multimillion-dollar contract extension.
REVEALED: Munster, Hunt World Cup bust-up
Storm football-operations chief Frank Ponissi said the club had no plans to sever ties with Munster, who is being groomed to replace Maroons champion Billy Slater at fullback next season.
“It’s becoming a circus,” Ponissi said in relation to speculation about Munster’s future.
“We are not releasing or even considering releasing Cameron.”
Concerns about Munster’s attitude first surfaced during last November’s World Cup.
The Storm premiership-winner was involved in some off-field incidents, including a clash with teammate Ben Hunt, prompting Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga to read the riot act to Munster.
During the tournament, Munster put on 5kg and his declining standards were detected by Australia skipper Cameron Smith, also his club captain at Melbourne.
Since the completion of the World Cup, Munster has held candid talks with Storm coach Craig Bellamy and Ponissi.
That has prompted a revamped attitude from Munster, who according to Storm insiders has trained strongly in pre-season.
Queensland chairman of selectors Gene Miles recently warned Munster the Maroons would not tolerate “mug lairs” as they chase a 12th Origin series win in 13 years this season.
While Munster could command $1 million on the open market with Sydney rivals, he is happy at the Melbourne Storm and is prepared to ink a new deal at the right price.
But his market value will ultimately be predicated upon his professionalism and on-field performances this season.
Former Queensland Origin star Justin Hodges is confident Melbourne’s strong culture will extract the best of Munster.
“He is only young — we have all been through that stage,’’ Hodges said.
“He is at a great club with a great coach (Bellamy), who is very tough and with Billy Slater and those senior guys there it will help him as well.
“He has to realise what he has got and I think he does now. I am sure he will pull his head in and do the right thing.”
Originally published as Storm offer Cameron Munster professional help amid release rumours