NRL 2024: Cameron Munster reveals how ski machine saved his season from injury

Cameron Munster thought his year could be over as he struggled with injury. But the Storm star has revealed how a machine designed to simulate cross country skiing saved his season.

Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster has revealed how a machine originally designed to simulate cross country skiing helped him overcome the hip problems that threatened his season and get back to his barnstorming best.

Munster, one of the architects of the Storm’s surge into Sunday night’s grand final, was sidelined for two months earlier this season amid concern that issues with both his hips may prematurely end his year.

At the height of the problem, Munster was having pain killing injections and struggled to stretch out, his issues highlighted when he battled to chase down Cronulla prop Oregon Kaufusi in a footrace during their game earlier in the year.

A week later he was left on the deck writhing in pain during the club’s win over Parramatta and the decision was made to rehabilitate the Queensland and Australian star over a 10-week period.

Cameron Munster was left in agony after suffering an injury against Parramatta in Round 11. Picture: NRL Imagery

What followed was endless hours with the Storm’s training staff staring at a whiteboard and working out on a SkiErg, a machine that was designed as a training tool for cross country skiing but is now used on a wider scale to work the legs and core.

“I think I did a fair bit of rehab stuff on the bike and the SkiErg and that wasn’t my forte – looking at a whiteboard and seeing how many reps or how many watts I had to do,” Munster said.

“I was getting needles every game, both hips, just to obviously get it going.

“Some games it felt good – the Souths game was good on Anzac Day, probably my best game. I felt no problems there and then unfortunately, I just couldn’t do back to back days of training.

“It probably showed on the field. I was just limping in the captain’s run, just getting that done and then trying to play in the games.

Munster has been back to his best in the finals, with 13 tackle breaks against the Sharks and Roosters and over 180 run metres in each game. Picture: Getty Images

“That’s been more the frustration for myself because I wanted to do more for the team and contribute more than I was.

“It was just one of those things I was pretty much head butting the wall because I just couldn’t go out there and do what I wanted to do.

“My strength is running the ball and probably laterally stepping around. I couldn’t do that. I had lost all my power.”

The likes of Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns reached out to Munster with advice as he reeled from injury but he put his faith in the Storm’s training staff, a decision that has paid dividends in recent weeks as he has rediscovered his mojo.

The finals have brought the best out in Munster – he busted 13 tackles against the Sharks and Roosters, and ran the ball for more than 180 metres on each occasion.

It is the sort of form that has Storm fans salivating over the impact he could have in the grand final on Sunday night.

Oregon Kaufusi scored a try in Round 10, after Munster was unable to chase down the front-rower. Picture: NRL Imagery

“I physically couldn’t beat Chris Lewis or Josh King at training when I got the ball,” Munster said of the injury.

“I played at Melbourne and someone made a long break and I couldn’t even catch (Oregon) Kaufusi.

“So that showed where my power was and I just couldn’t get out of first gear. That was one of those things that just somehow come good.

“It took time.”

All that stands between him and the perfect end to the season is the all-conquering Panthers and their talismanic halfback.

“I have always had a nice battle with Nathan Cleary and you want to play against the best,” Munster said.

“It’s mouth-watering.”