Cameron Munster’s pay cut creates $750k dilemma

Cameron Munster has a $750,000 decision to make on his future with the details of the Storm’s extension offer being revealed.

Cameron Munster of the Storm. Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Cameron Munster has a $750,000 decision to make on his future with the details of the Storm’s extension offer being revealed.

Munster is set to earn $1.2 million next season — the final year of his current contract.

On Wednesday, Triple M’s Ben Dobbin reported the 29-year-old is in negotiations with the Storm over an extension, but the offer falls well shot of his current salary — and what the Dolphins are prepared to pay for him.

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“At the moment he has been in some negotiations with the Storm about an extension. Currently at the moment, my understanding is that he has only been offered $750,000-a-year for a three-year extension,” Dobbin told The Rush Hour.

“To put it in context, next year at the Storm he’s on $1.2 million a year. So the Melbourne Storm clearly don’t think that Munster is worth the money the following year hence that figure of $750,000.

“Enter our friends, the Dolphins. The Dolphins have gone on record and have absolutely said this to me today that they are prepared, if they could get Cameron Munster, to pay him a three-year deal at $1 million a season.

“I think he’s worth $1 million to the Dolphins, but is he worth $1 million to the Storm? Clearly not.

“They just recently signed Jahrome Hughes for big money, they’ve got Harry Grant locked away, they’ve got Ryan Papenhuyzen locked away, Xavier Coates.

“They have what they believe (are) their playmakers and matchwinners.”

Cameron Munster of the Storm. Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images

While Munster is contracted to the Storm for another year, there’s every chance that could change.

The Dolphins enter the competition next season and are still yet to land a marquee player. With cash to spend and the need for a big fish, Bennett may attempt to snare Munster a year early — which may also benefit the Storm.

“The biggest thing, if you’re the Melbourne Storm and you’ve got Cameron Munster and you don’t believe long term he’s worth that $1.2 million …” Dobbin said.

“If the Dolphins come knocking at the end of the year and say, ‘Listen, we want to wash out Cameron Munster’s contract. We’ll pay the million, you pay the $200,000 and we’ll take Cameron Munster off your hands.’

“That gives the Melbourne Storm $1 million in their cap next year to go and get players. The best development club at the moment who can turn water into wine is Craig Bellamy and the Melbourne Storm.

“So the chances of that happening, if Cameron Munster decides that he’s prepared to take that $1 million deal, to me looks like it’s very real.

“If he wants to be at the Storm he’s going to be $750,000 poorer over three years and I don’t think anybody who is at the back end of their career is prepared to do that.”

Originally published as Cameron Munster’s pay cut creates $750k dilemma