Storm’s Cameron Munster roasted over horror goal kicking mess

The Melbourne Storm have proven to be the NRL’s best team in many areas over the years, but one area may need to be addressed.

Apparently Cameron Munster can’t do everything.

There are lots of things that Cameron Munster is very good at but goalkicking is not one of them.

The Melbourne Storm were down 8-6 to the Cronulla Sharks at halftime but ran away with a 40-14 win at AAMI Park.

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But while the side ran away with a crushing win, coach Craig Bellamy has a problem with slotting the extras.

Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen took over after Cameron Smith’s retirement but with the fullback injured, the role has fallen on Cameron Munster.

After starting the day with a penalty goal, Munster missed some easy ones.

His first conversion attempt was pretty close to the posts but he hooked it across the face.

His next one he nailed from the same position before missing one from the sideline.

A few more from directly in front helped his goal kicking percentage but it wasn’t over for Munster.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Munster took a shot at converting Brandon Smith’s try from right beside the posts.

Literally right beside the posts.

The look of a man who can't believe he missed from there.

Munster put his hands on his head, with Fox League commentator Warren Smith saying “Standing there, you can’t work out how you missed that.”

He added that tonight wouldn’t matter but that it would be somewhat of a headache on Thursday night when the Storm play the Rabbitohs.

He was removed from the goalkicking duties for the next try with Nicho Hynes taking a shot, but pushing it wide across the face.

Unfortunately for Munster, Hynes was given a late break, meaning Munster had to come back for one more, missing from near the sideline but by a long way for four from eight for the season.

“Oh my goodness, they’re getting worse, he’s given it the teapot again,” Smith said.

“Maybe Reimis Smith can kick goals, he can certainly score tries.”

The winger had scored a hat-trick.

While scoring tries doesn’t seem to be an issue, the goal kicking concerns may need to be addressed.

After the game, prop Christian Welch skewered his teammate.

“What needs to be improved, maybe out goalkicking,” he told Fox League. “I think maybe if you were on a million dollars a year you could put it through the posts 5m from the posts. But you know what, he’s working on his golf so I think he has his priorities right.

“Hopefully he’s sacked, I think he’s gone, I don’t think you can come back from there. Papenhuyzen will be back next week hopefully and we can forget about Cameron Munster goalkicking.”

It didn’t escape the view of NRL great Phil Gould, who took a swipe at Munster’s goalkicking on social media.

Munster goal kicking. Hit or miss. pic.twitter.com/PUXa4LWvOI

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) April 30, 2021

OFFICIAL: Melbourne’s goalkicking has kept Cronulla in title contention. #NRLStormSharks

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) April 30, 2021

Lucky for Melbourne it didn’t affect the game too much as the side powered away with the second half.

After the match, Storm coach Craig Bellamy praised Munster “other than his goalkicking”.

“I imagine he gave those boots away because of the goalkicking I’d say,” Bellamy said. “He missed a couple of sitters.”

He added that he didn’t want the goalkicking to take away from the rest of his game.