Cameron Munster won’t make a last-minute switch to fullback for Melbourne’s season opener

Melbourne Storm playmaker Cameron Munster has all but ruled out a shock return to fullback ahead of next Thursday night’s NRL season-opener against Brisbane Broncos at AAMI Park.

MACKAY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 02: Cameron Munster of the Storm runs the ball during the NRL Trial match between the Melbourne Storm and the North Queensland Cowboys on March 02, 2019 in Mackay, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

• SHOWDOWN: Mansour ready to tangle with Ferguson

• COMEBACK: Trbojevic’s return date confirmed

Melbourne Storm playmaker Cameron Munster has all but ruled out a shock return to fullback ahead of next Thursday night’s NRL season-opener against Brisbane Broncos at AAMI Park.

Jahrome Hughes looks set to get first crack in the No. 1 jersey vacated by retired icon Billy Slater last year with young gun Scott Drinkwater (torn pectoral) sidelined for up to 12 weeks.

Munster broke out in 2015-16 at fullback, replacing a then injured Slater, before premiership mastermind Craig Bellamy converted the Rockhampton export into a five-eighth.

Despite wrestling with the change the shift paid dividends for premiership-winner Munster, who went on to star for Queensland and Australia in the No. 6 jersey.

Munster will stay at five-eighth this season. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

“I haven’t spoken to him (Bellamy) about it,” Munster said.

“(We) just feel the best thing for our team is me playing at six.

“We need someone to step up and hopefully Jahrome can fill that void.

“I know he’s played some really good footy last year so fingers crossed he can do the job again.”

Munster said losing Drinkwater on the eve of the season will not impact combinations in the backfield either.

Hughes played 11 games last year including six at fullback.

“Jahrome is really good at running the ball and Drinky is really good with his ball skills, and he’s got speed to burn too, they’ve got different strengths but we can change our structure for them and hopefully it comes to fruition and we play really well in Round 1.”

Hughes missed large chunks of the preseason due to international commitments with New Zealand and last month’s NRL All-Star Game.

Munster will take more of the playmaking responsibility this year. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

Melbourne is primed to start strongly next week despite losing both preseason trial games after the “hardest preseason” of Munster’s career.

“I’m excited (for Round 1 because) we’ve been getting flogged for the last 15-16 weeks pretty hard,” Munster said.

“Bellyache has gone old school at times, whether it be hills or the wrestle, just showing the young boys, I guess, how he did it when he was coaching Billy and Cooper and that in 2004-05.

“It was really good and refreshing for some of us young blokes that haven’t done hills in that regard... it’s pretty good and (I’ve) lost a couple kilos so it’s a bonus.”