NRL market watch: Melbourne Storm back in race to retain Cameron Munster

The multimillion-dollar race for Cameron Munster took a significant turn in an hour. This is the inside story of the meeting which might decide the Storm star’s future.

Cameron Munster is in demand. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

Melbourne chair and owner Matt Tripp walked into a meeting with Cameron Munster and his agent Braith Anasta on Tuesday resigned to losing the Storm star.

Barely an hour later, he walked out confident the club was in with a fighting chance after tabling a fresh extension for the Queensland five-eighth worth upwards of $3 million over three seasons.

After months of haggling, the Storm are back in the game. They have renewed hope after adjusting their salary cap budgets and allocating more money to their best player.

The revised three-year offer, which would keep Munster in Melbourne until the end of 2026, threatens to be a heartbreaker for the Dolphins, who have made the Storm superstar their No. 1 priority.

“We’re just hopeful,” Tripp said.

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“We think we have put in an offer that is competitive. I care for Cameron a lot and it might sound self-serving, but I genuinely believe the best place for Cameron and his family is in Melbourne.

“He will play his best footy down here, he will live his happiest life down here, he and (Munster’s partner) Bianca are so happy at the moment and they have the little fella who is thriving.

“Life is good for them. Admittedly 2024 is a long way away but I hope that they make the right call in the coming weeks or months to stay in Melbourne.

Cameron Munster at training this week. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty

“We will make sure we put a good team around him to make sure he has continued success.”

News Corp understands that the Storm found extra money for Munster after revising the dollars they had planned to allocate to certain positions in the future.

Tripp is confident the revisions won’t cost them an opportunity to surround their world-class spine – Ryan Papanhuyzen, Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant – with players capable of ensuring they can continue to compete for titles.

News Corp can reveal that the quartet take up a lower percentage of the salary cap than the Big Three – Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk – did in their prime.

Tripp acknowledges the club faces a juggling act, but they believe Munster is worth it. The Storm pivot has been in the form of his life this season, prompting a host of clubs to express an interest in acquiring his services at he end of 2023.

The Dolphins have been the most public but it is understood there are other clubs keeping an eye on the situation as they prepare to launch formal bids on November 1, when Munster is free to sign with rival clubs.

The Storm have closed the gap on their rivals but they may yet need to stretch their offer to a fourth year. For the moment, they can take solace in the fact that they have given Munster and Anasta some serious food for thought.

“Certainly the guys who are on the roster from 2024 and beyond, nothing changes of them,” Tripp said.

“For new players coming to the club, I think it is a drawcard if we can keep Cameron. To have the spine we have in place long term, I think players will want to be part of that roster and I think we can make it as attractive as we have always been able to make it for young talent to want to be part of the Melbourne Storm.”

Originally published as NRL market watch: Melbourne Storm back in race to retain Cameron Munster