Cameron Munster injury fate sealed in monster State of Origin blow

A Melbourne Storm and Queensland star has learnt the damning truth of his injury in a bombshell blow for both his club and state.

Nightmare news for Cameron Munster. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The Maroons have suffered a major blow with Cameron Munster ruled out of this year’s State of Origin series, but the news is much better for the Storm with the superstar five-eighth set to return from a groin injury ahead of the finals.

The Storm confirmed on Monday that Munster would miss the next 8-10 weeks as he continues to manage a groin complaint which kept him sidelined for the opening month of the season.

Munster returned in round five and played strongly albeit still hampered by the condition which flared up significantly against the Eels at Magic Round, with the rep star writhing in pain and subbed off just before half-time as the Storm piled on the points without him.

The 29-year-old won’t require surgery at this stage, with Munster likely needing to play through any pain when he returns possibly as early as the round 20 clash against the Roosters at AAMI Park.

“Cameron had scans earlier today which showed a tear in the adductor tendon,” Storm director of football Frank Ponissi said.

“Our club doctor sought independent medical advice and we decided to take the conservative approach through treatment and rehabilitation without the need for surgery.

“While it is obviously disappointing for both Cameron and the club to be missing football at this stage of the season, we are confident this approach will give him the best chance of recovery in the long term.”

Wishing Munny a speedy and careful recovery 🥺🫶

— Naarm Storm (@storm) May 20, 2024

The Storm are hopeful that Jahrome Hughes (calf) will return against the Sea Eagles on Friday night, with their reliable backup playmaker Jonah Pezet (ACL) unavailable for the rest of the year.

Tyran Wishart has done a magnificent job filling in for Hughes in recent weeks and will likely stay in the halves for the next two months with the Storm currently in second spot having banked a number of tight wins.

While there’s light at the end of the tunnel for the Storm, the Maroons will now be without one of their most important players with the 2020 Wally Lewis Medal winner out for the entire Origin series.

Munster is one of the modern Origin greats and has always lifted at that level, with Queensland coach Billy Slater now set to turn to Tom Dearden or Ezra Mam in a series that will be missing some of the biggest names in the NRL.

Cameron Munster will miss the entire State of Origin series for the Maroons. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Slater spoke at length about the loss of Munster and assured QLD fans the team would be fine heading into the Origin series.

“Queensland will be okay. Melbourne will be okay,” Slater said on Nine’s The Billy Slater Podcast.

“Someone will get an opportunity there... I haven’t spoken to Cameron personally but this is not a new thing. He’s been battling this all year, throughout the preseason.

“I do go into Melbourne once a week... I know what’s going on there, it’s not new to me, it’s not a surprise.

“I feel for him that he had to go through that on the field. I’ve had a groin injury and I know how debilitating it is.

“For him to be pushing through that pain throughout the year and still performing and then to incur a setback like that, I really felt for him.

“I understand how much time, effort, commitment, and sacrifice our players put into their careers because I did it. When that’s taken away from you through injury it’s tough, both physically and mentally.”