Cameron Munster concedes he’ll only be 80 per cent fit for most games this season

Cameron Munster got an A from his coach after returning for Melbourne Storm last week but there’s a secret pain behind his comeback.

Cameron Munster of the Storm (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Cameron Munster has conceded he’s unlikely to be better than 80 per cent fit for most games this year as he manages a groin issue which could mean he plays “crap” some weeks.

But the star Storm playmaker is putting a focus on being “mentally strong enough to play” through his issues and is eyeing off giving the premiership a “red hot crack” if he and his spine partners Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuyzen can get some consistent time together on-field.

Munster played his first game for 2024 in last Thursday’s stunning come from behind win over the Brisbane Broncos and earned an “A” from coach Craig Bellamy post-match.

The 29-year-old said his “lungs were burning” in the 11-try thriller, with the result decided on the final play of the game and said he would have to training a “little bit smarter” through the season to ensure he’s at his bets on game day having endured an interrupted pre-season which even had club medical staff baffled.

“Surprisingly I pulled up really well from the groin after the game,” Munster said on Monday.

“I think for me, just mentally trying to get through those demons, the body is going to probably be 70 -80 % most games and I’ve just going to be mentally strong enough to play and get through it.

Cameron Munster against the Brisbane Broncos. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“It was a good stepping stone Thursday night and it’s going to show I’m not going to be great 100 % each and every week, at times I’m going to be pretty good and sometimes I’m going to be crap so for me it’s about just getting my head right and being able to do whatever I can and just a little things for the team.”

Munster said the fact the Storm coaching staff like to “flog the crap out of you during the week” made it even more important for him to focus on looking after himself in all facets of life both at and away from the club.

With Munster back on the field and Hughes returning from suspension Melbourne had it’s star-studded spin in place for the first time this season and six tries in one of the best games of the season was the result.

Keeping the awesome foursome together remains crucial to Storm’s chances of climbing the premiership mountain again having barely been together in 2022 and 2023 as fullback Papenhuyzen in particular endured serious injuries.

It’s a fact not lost on Munster who knows the best teams have their key players together more often.

“Yeah it’s been a while since we played together you know us four ,” he said.

“When we did the stats and stuff I think we played 40 games in the last four years together, so it’s pretty crazy. with injuries to Paps.

Harry Grant, Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen have hardly played with each other in recent seasons. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

“I’m just looking around the special spines in the competition and they’ve got about 100 to 150 games you know together.

So hopefully all of us are injury free this year and yeah, we can give the competition a red-hot crack.”

Storm will get the chance to move to a 4-1 record on Friday night in a home clash against the Bulldogs.