‘Moment of madness’: Cameron Munster sent to the sin bin in almighty brain fade

Cameron Munster admits he’ll be copping an almighty spray from Craig Bellamy after a monstrous brain fade almost gave the Roosters a comeback.

Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster was booted to the sin bin after committing a professional foul on Roosters fullback James Tedesco in their tense clash at Allianz Stadium.

Tedesco was attempting to take a quick 20 metre tap after a kick found its way over the dead ball line. But in a strange brain fade that will likely leave him in hot water in the post-match debrief, Munster grabbed his opponent inside 10 metres.

Referee Ashley Klein immediately sent him from the field and gave the Roosters a crucial opportunity to level the score after trailing 6-12 midway through the second half.

“That’s a moment of madness,” Fox League’s Greg Alexander said from the commentary box.

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NRL great Brad Fittler said the 29-year-old should expect to see a fine for leisurely walking from the field after being binned.

“That is a breach. You are supposed to jog off when you go to the sin bin... Munster you are getting fined,” he said on Channel Nine.

Munster admitted the Storm were lucky to get the win considering the circumstances.

“I was sitting in the sheds pretty disappointed... I’ve got a pretty good run with sin bins against the Roosters,” Munster said after the match.

“I thought Teddy could go the length... I just wanted to do what was best for the team.

“We want to do the best thing for the team and looking back now, the boys dug deep but we were lucky to get the win.”

Munster said he was expecting heat from coach Craig Bellamy for his error, which he admits he “cannot afford” to commit again.

“I think tonight I better go home,” he said.

“I think everyone else will get a wrap but I will get a spray when I get in there. Back to the drawing board to get better because I cannot be affording sitting down and watching the boys for 10 minutes.”

Munster copped an almighty boo from the Sydney crowd as the final siren blew. He reacted by simply putting his finger to his ear.

“Cameron Munster has heard all the boos before but he can soak it all in tonight,” Mat Thompson said from the commentary box.

Munster said he was expecting heat from coach Craig Bellamy for his error, which he admits he ‘cannot afford’ to commit again.

While Munster’s blatant error cost the visitors, the Roosters just weren’t able to scrape by and take the win at home. Joey Manu injected life back into the second half with an exhilarating try on the right edge. Joseph Suaalii did well to knock back a nice kick from Luke Keary, and Manu plonked it inside the try line with an inch to spare.

The match began on a solemn note as the teams paid tribute to last weekend’s horrific Bondi Junction stabbing spree that left six people dead.

Players wore black arm bands in respect for the victims.

The match began on a solemn note as the teams paid tribute to last weekend’s horrific Bondi Junction stabbing spree

The Storm began with a strange moment in the first half, wasting a captain’s challenge just four minutes into the match.

The Storm began with a strange moment in the first half, wasting a captain’s challenge just four minutes into the match.

Jahrome Hughes sent a kick that brushed the head of prop Lindsay Collins, resulting in a scrum for the Roosters.

But Hughes insisted on a challenge and the Bunker referee made an obvious decision, declaring Collins had not played at the ball after being hit.

“I find that bizarre from Melbourne... that is absolutely bizarre,” Andrew Voss said from the commentary box.

“Do they know the rule?” Greg Alexander added.

The away win has now placed Melbourne atop the ladder with five wins and just one loss to kick off the 2024 season.

They are now poised to take on the struggling Rabbitohs in round eight at home next Thursday.