Cameron Murray opens up about NRL Grand Final heartbreak and Rabbitohs captaincy

Cameron Murray needed to take some time away to get over the Rabbitohs’ shock Grand Final loss. This is how he - and the team - put it behind them.

When Rabbitohs star Cameron Murray was growing up he wanted to be a palaeontologist or an archaeologist.

His love for digging and finding fossils was discovered when he received a special toy as a child. Murray was so inspired that when he had a dress-up day at kindergarten, with a “come as what you want to be when you’re older” theme, he “dressed up as a scientist”.

Funnily enough, the majority of his class came as footballers.

“I would have worn a scientist (coat) and probably some nerdy classes and brought some bones in or something,” Murray laughed.

“I just thought it was cool. I got a block of clay with a dinosaur skeleton in it and you got cutters and stuff to dig it out yourself and then join up all the bones at the end of it. That was really fun and I think that was what sparked my interest.

‘Maybe that’s where my career changed!’ Rabbitohs star Cameron Murray. Picture: Getty Images

“Everyone turned up as a footy player and I thought ‘Oh I want to be a footy player too!’ Maybe that’s where my career changed.”

Fast forward approximately 20 years and Murray didn’t become a palaeontologist or an archaeologist – although there’s still time – instead he’s an NRL and Origin star in his first season as South Sydney captain.

‘I still feel like a rookie’

Announced as the new Souths skipper at the end of last year, and at just 23-years-old, Murray is still coming into his own but has a clear philosophy.

“I still feel like a bit of a rookie, so I’ll lean a lot on the leadership crew that we’ve got and the experience we have in Cody Walker, Damien Cook and also Latrell Mitchell who are big prominent figures in our team and in rugby league itself,” Murray said.

“I’ll turn to a lot to the boys who have been there and done that for advice when I need it but I guess it’s all built on hard work for me, the training you put out on the paddock because it all pays you back. So I’m going to lead by example there and do everything I can, make good choices on and off the field that puts myself and our team in the best position possible.

“Learning under Wayne Bennett’s coaching style, I try to say what needs to be said and leave it at that. Sometimes I come across like Wayne does as a man of few words but I say what needs to be said.

Cameron Murray of the Rabbitohs is tackled by Jordan Riki of the Broncos during the round one NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s all about leading through my actions and not living life with any contradictions on and off the field and being a good role model.”

Murray’s captaincy comes at an intriguing time for the Rabbitohs. There’s a new coach, with Jason Demetriou taking over from Wayne Bennett, the team is coming off a heartbreaking Grand Final loss to the Panthers and key players including former captain Adam Reynolds and Dane Gagai have left.

The now 24-year-old admits coming to terms with losing to the Panthers took its toll, and he needed to take some time away to come to get himself ready to start again.

“I really just tried to get away from footy because I knew that’s what I needed to do to forget about the heartbreak of losing,” Murray said.

“I just shut off for a month to a month and a half.”

But Murray wasn’t alone in needing a break after the Grand Final heartbreak. All players were given significant time away to come to terms with the loss and return ready to go one better this year.

“No one has really talked about it (the Grand Final loss) too much, we’ve kind of dumped it. It’s in the past,” Murray said. “If there’s any silver lining to losing a Grand Final it’s that everyone remembers that heartbreak and that feeling and no one wants to feel it again.

Cameron Murray embraces former teammate Adam Reynolds at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

“So I think everyone more than anything has used it as motivation to come back stronger, fitter and in better shape to put themselves in the best position moving forward.

“That’s what I’ve been really impressed with this pre-season and the coaching staff was really good, they gave us a lot of time off because they knew we needed it and they knew we needed it to come back fresh and that’s what everyone’s done. They’ve turned up in great shape with a good attitude and everyone’s been ripping into training. There’s really good signs.”

Murray’s next move

Personally, Murray has taken his training to new levels in his bid to improve and not repeat past mistakes.

After undergoing a latarjet procedure on his shoulder over the off-season, Murray changed up his training. He incorporated more pilates and added yoga and tone training at FS8 so he could begin his rehab faster and make himself a better player with more flexibility and strength in different areas.

“I remember after the 2019 season, which probably up until last year was the biggest season I’ve had and it was the second full season I’d played in the NRL and we were pretty successful that year, I remember that off-season I didn’t mix it up much, I didn’t do much variety at all and only gave myself a short break,” Murray said.

Cameron Murray is an ambassador for FS8. Picture: News Corp Australia

“So I did really feel the hangover in the 2020 season from the previous big season. I knew this year, especially with all the hype around the Grand Final and relocation and stuff like that, I needed to change it up, give myself a break and rejuvenate my passion for training and my passion for improving not only as a footy player but as a person as well.

“It has really refreshed me for this season and rekindled that motivation and desire to be a better player and better teammate this year. It’s only early days now but I’m sure it will make a difference later on (in the year).

“As someone who has fallen into the trap of being very two-dimensional in his thinking when it comes to training, I have kind of forgotten about the stabilising muscles and the muscles that get forgotten about when you’re just working the big muscle groups.

“My strength isn’t running straight at someone and trying to run over the top of them with brute strength, it’s more about footwork and being more in tune with my body and … being as strong as you can in different positions and using your strength and speed to get around the big boys.”

The Rabbitohs face Melbourne Storm on Thursday night.

Originally published as Cameron Murray opens up about NRL Grand Final heartbreak and Rabbitohs captaincy