NRL 2022 Market Watch: Agent Braith Anasta tells Cam Munster it’s time to come clean to Storm

As rival clubs prepare to fight for the NRL’s hottest off-contract star, a former teammate has weighed in on Cameron Munster’s next move.

Cam Smith believes Cameron Munster is leaving the Storm. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty

Cameron Munster could soon find himself at the centre of an all-out bidding war as rival clubs prepare to enter the fight for the NRL’s hottest off-contract star.

It comes amid mounting speculation that 2023 will be Munster’s final season in Melbourne with Wests Tigers, Canterbury and Gold Coast now emerging as genuine threats to Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins.

Munster’s agent Braith Anasta confirmed on Monday that he would meet with his client in the coming days to make a final decision on whether he will stay or leave the Storm following the team’s shock exit from the finals.

Former Storm captain Cameron Smith also conceded on Monday that his “gut feeling” was Munster was leaving.

“If I’m brutally honest, if he was to commit to the Melbourne Storm and extend his contract, he would’ve done so by now,” Smith told SEN.

Anasta and the Storm recently agreed to put off all talks until the Storm’s season had been finalised because Anasta could sense it was playing on Munster’s mind.

But following Saturday’s defeat to Canberra, Anasta confirmed decision-time had arrived.

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Cam Smith believes Cameron Munster is leaving the Storm. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty

“Cameron will make a decision on whether he will stay in Melbourne or not, as discussed with (Storm chairman) Matt Tripp, I would assume over the next few weeks,” Anasta said.

“I am either going to fly to Melbourne or he will fly here (to Sydney) and have a game of golf and we will discuss it in detail and see where his head is at and what the final decision is.”

Asked if Munster had given him any indication which way he was leaning, Anasta added: “He is very confused.

“That is why I put the discussions back (until the Storm’s season was over). I haven’t spoken to him because for the first time I could tell it was really playing on his mind.

“So as exciting as the situation is to be in, it is a really tough one. I honestly have no idea right now what he is going to do. That will all come to a head pretty shortly I should imagine.”

Asked if it would only come down to the Storm or Dolphins, he added: “I would say no to that.”

Melbourne has already made it clear that the most recent offer put to Munster — believed to be about $1 million-a-season — would be their last and best.

The problem for the Storm is that they have left Munster to last to try and re-sign after previously prioritising Harry Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes ahead of him.

But what it has done is put Munster in a potentially awkward situation given he would have to literally walk away from millions if he recommits.

It’s public knowledge Munster would command north of $1.3 million-a-season at others clubs including the Dolphins who are desperate to land a marquee player.

It also has been reported that the Tigers would go even higher - in the vicinity of $7 million over five seasons - to try and blow their rivals out of the water.

Gold Coast and Canterbury are two other possible options, although other rivals are said to be ready to pounce if Munster officially puts himself on the open market.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett. Picture: Getty Images

The speculation linking Munster to the Dogs is interesting given Canterbury has indicated the priority for them is to keep Matt Burton beyond 2023, but the Bulldogs are also chasing a fullback.

Until now most just assumed it would either come down to Melbourne or the Dolphins for Munster.

But it is known other rivals are now sitting back monitoring the situation to see if it is worth entering the chase come November 1, when Munster can officially sign with a rival for the 2024 season.

Munster proved over the closing stages of the season that he is without question the Storm’s most important player and he would be a huge loss to a club that is also losing Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi and Brandon Smith for 2023.

Smith added on Sen: “He’s been at the club since he was 16 years of age and we’ve heard Braith Anasta come out and say the Melbourne Storm offer is in the area it should be.

“So what’s holding him back?

“As bad as this may sound for all the Storm supporters and myself, I feel like he will be going to the Dolphins.”

Originally published as NRL 2022 Market Watch: Agent Braith Anasta tells Cam Munster it’s time to come clean to Storm