NRL 2022: Storm legend Cameron Smith says 2023 will be star Cameron Munster’s last year in Melbourne
A bitter finals exit may not be the last blow for Melbourne Storm, with a club legend predicting a big move.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The news could keep getting worse for Melbourne Storm in the wake of Saturday’s bitter NRL finals exit, with club legend Cameron Smith declaring next year will be Cameron Munster’s last at the club.
Munster is off-contract at the end of 2023 and the 27-year-old had put off talks on his future beyond then until the end of the finals.
While he’s committed to the club next season, and Storm coach Craig Bellamy also declared he wasn’t going anywhere, Smith, the longest serving captain in Melbourne’s history, thinks Munster will join new NRL team the Dolphins from 2024.
The Dolphins are set to throw a $1m-a-season offer at Munster, and Smith said if the Queensland Origin star wanted to stay in Melbourne, he would have decided by now.
“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 said on Monday morning.
“That’s my gut feeling.
“He’s been at the club since he was 16 years of age and we’ve heard (Munster’s manager) 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.”
The newest NRL club is yet to land a marquee signing for 2023 and had tried to get Munster out of Melbourne early, but the Storm refused to budge.
Storm stalwarts Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, as well as Felise Kaufusi, are all joining the Dolphins next season.
Last week, Munster said a move to Brisbane, for family reasons, was weighing on his mind.
“If it was only about myself, then I’d love to stay,” he said.
“But at the same time I’ve got a young family that I need to worry about and obviously she’s from Queensland, so we need to make sure we will make the right decision.”
Smith said the Storm, which made a first-week finals exit for the first time since 2014, was now facing a tricky battle to remain in contention next season with the exit of players, which includes Kiwi international Brandon Smith.
“They’re four premiership players and four representative players as well,” Smith told SEN.
“They’re losing a whole heap of experience.
“They are four players that are also in their starting 13, so it’s a big chunk of their starting side now out of this team.
“This is going to be a big challenge for the club and Craig Bellamy as coach.”
The Storm finished outside the top four for the first time since 2014 and it ultimately proved costly, as they bowed out in the first week of finals.
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2022: Storm legend Cameron Smith says 2023 will be star Cameron Munster’s last year in Melbourne
From one Rocky great to another: Inside’s Munster’s golden run
An Olympic gold medal won two decades ago shapes as the unlikely source of inspiration for Cameron Munster and the Maroons, as fellow Rockhampton product Jamie Dwyer paved a path to glory.
Cleary’s mystery injury leaves Penrith scratching heads
Penrith officials were left dumbfounded by Nathan Cleary’s apparent leg injury which saw him relinquish goalkicking duties and contain his overall Perth performance. ORIGIN CONFIDENTIAL.