‘It’s not about money’: Cameron Munster reveals motivations as November 1 deadline looms

Cameron Munster will board a plane on Thursday still unsure where he’ll play in 2024 having failed to come to terms with the Storm.

Cameron Munster will be the most sought after player on the market on November 1. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Cameron Munster’s contract saga looks set to extend beyond November 1, with the Storm five-eighth revealing he’s still unsure where he’ll play in 2024 as he prepares to fly out for the World Cup starting later this month.

The news isn’t good for Melbourne, with other clubs able to officially make the in-demand rep star offers from November 1 for the 2024 season and beyond.

The 28-year-old is off contract at the end of next season and has been the hottest prospect on the player market, with the Dolphins and Tigers reportedly willing to break the bank to lure him north.

The Storm is desperate to keep the Cameron Smith medallist, but their task will become much tougher in just under four weeks, with Munster still undecided about his plans.

Cameron Munster was named Melbourne’s player of the year for 2022. Picture: Supplied

“I was on the fence. It’s nothing towards Melbourne or anyone else, I just want to make the right decision for my family,” said Munster, who joked Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga had even asked him about his future.

“I wanted to make sure before the World Cup, but unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. Things don’t always go to plan.

“We’re probably looking more towards November 1 now. It’s going to be an interesting time.

“I’ll hopefully make a decision soon. I might back a decision by then, or I might keep people waiting. Who knows?”

There are a couple of major factors that will determine what the Queensland and Australian five-eighth does in 2024, but Munster is adamant money isn’t one of them.

He’s been offered around $1m a season to stay by the Storm, while rival clubs are willing to bump that figure up considerably, with the Dolphins still searching for a marquee signing.

Munster has only known success since he debuted in 2014, with he and the Storm reaching seven preliminary finals in a row before that streak was snapped last month.

It’s why joining a team like the Dolphins or the Tigers – who finished with the wooden spoon this year – won’t come down to how many zeros are on his contract.

Cameron Munster and Cameron Smith celebrate the 2020 premiership. Picture: Brett Costello

“It’s not money,” he replied when asked what the biggest selling point was.

“I’ve been lucky enough to be in a competitive team for eight or nine years and played plenty of prelim finals.

“To bow out like we did this year is a sour taste in the mouth, but I just want to make sure that I pick the right decision and play some competitive footy because I hate losing, as everyone does when they play professional sport.

“I want to make sure I’m still enjoying my footy and not losing every week.

“Money’s not everything, but after seeing Penrith win the grand final, it makes me really want to win it again.

“I don’t know where that’s going to be, but I’ll make that decision before November 1 or, if not, after November 1.”

A stack of clubs are chasing the game’s best five-eighth. Picture: NRL Photos

Munster said it would be a “nice challenge” to join a struggling team and help them be competitive, but moving north would come with other hurdles.

“I’d probably get noticed a lot more in Queensland than what I would be in Melbourne and Sydney,” he said.

“I’ve noticed that a lot since I’ve been in Sydney and in Queensland as well.

“That obviously plays a big part if I can go out and have a coffee and enjoy myself and eat my food (without being stopped every five seconds).

“That’s one of the things to take into consideration, but at the end of the day, we play footy for kids and fans. There are positives and negatives, but I’ll make the decision when the time’s right.”

Munster is still hurt by Melbourne’s early exit from the finals. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

The constant speculation on where he’ll play in 2024 hasn’t been lost on Munster, who has been asked about his future every time he’s stepped in front of a camera.

He says he’s become an easy topic for the media to fall back on and knows it won’t go away until he puts pen to paper.

“When I notice something about myself, it means there’s nothing else happening in the media. I know that for a fact,” he said.

“The same stories come up all the time. If there’s nothing happening in the world or no negative press, then it’s always about my contract.

“I feel like there are some good stories out there that people don’t want to post because it doesn’t get much hype.

“They always want the tall poppy syndrome of someone crashing down.

“You’ll always get more chat about a bad story than a good story, so it gets frustrating at times, but I know for me, it’s because there’s nothing else to talk about.”