NRL Market Watch: Storm star Cameron Munster set for begin formal negotiations with Dolphins

With spendthrift Melbourne suddenly vulnerable to a poaching raid, the Dolphins suddenly smell a real opportunity to land a long-coveted marquee back - and what a coup it would be.

WAGGA WAGGA, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 09: Cameron Munster of the Storm tackles Brad Schneider of the Raiders high during the round five NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Melbourne Storm at McDonalds Park, on April 09, 2022, in Wagga Wagga, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Queensland Origin star Cameron Munster will formally meet with Wayne Bennett as the Dolphins prepare a $4 million mega deal to blow Melbourne out of the water and secure their first marquee signing.

News Corp can reveal the Dolphins’ pursuit of Munster is heating up, with the Storm ace ready to begin formal negotiations with Bennett in the strongest sign yet the Maroons pivot is weighing up a return to Queensland.

Bennett will attend the meeting armed with a four-year deal worth $1 million a season - and hopes to have Munster on deck for the Dolphins’ debut campaign in 2023 if the Storm playmaker will consider an early release.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Cameron Munster turned down a recent Storm contract offer.

The super coach met with Kalyn Ponga in Sydney last week, although there is a feeling Dolphins hierarchy believe they have a better chance of winning the signature of Munster than that of the Newcastle superstar.

Now Munster is keen to sort out his future, with his management confirming he is poised to kick-off contract talks with Bennett’s Dolphins in a potential recruitment coup for the NRL’s 17th team.

“The way things have fallen, the Dolphins are interested,” said Munster’s agent Braith Anasta.

“We haven’t had talks with Wayne or the Dolphins yet, but we will look to meet very soon.

“Cameron has to think about his future, so I will talk to the Dolphins and get a bit more official about what they want and what their expectations are.

“Cam is in a good headspace, he is playing well and if we can get clarity on his future, he will be free of any distractions for the rest of the year.

“I want to know what level of interest there is and I want to know what the plans are with Melbourne moving forward.”

The Storm are running out of salary-cap space after last week upgrading Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant and former Broncos winger Xavier Coates in an $8 million retention drive.

Munster is set to meet with the Dolphins.

Melbourne also outlaid more than $800,000-a-season last year to extend fullback sensation Ryan Papenhuyzen, who is locked in until the end of 2025.

That leaves the Storm vulnerable to a poaching raid on Munster.

Melbourne last month tabled a two-year extension to Munster worth around $750,000 a season, well shy of the $1 million deal Anasta believes he can source for the two-time premiership winner on the open market.

By signing with the Dolphins, Munster could pocket an additional $2.5 million compared to his Storm extension.

While the Dolphins have signed Storm forward trio Jesse and Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi, Bennett knows he needs a big-name scalp in the backs. Munster, a Queenslander from Rockhampton, is the logical option and Anasta will not undervalue the Test playmaker.

“The truth is the Storm’s offer is not even close to what I believe is Cameron’s market value,” he said.

“And that’s fair enough, look at the great players the Storm have re-signed. It’s going to prove very hard for Melbourne to get close to Cameron’s market value.

“We knocked back their offer a few weeks ago and we haven’t heard anything since.

Storm have locked up Hughes, Coates and Grant on long term deals.

“Cam is totally committed to Melbourne, he loves the club and ideally he doesn’t want to leave. But we have to be realistic. The Storm have spent a lot of their cap on extending Hughes and Harry and even the Coates upgrade was a bit of a curve ball. We didn’t see that deal coming.

“Munster is worth $1 million in my eyes. Have a look at the player market for playmakers, there is no-one else of Cameron’s pedigree. There’s probably two playmakers ahead of him like Nathan Cleary or Daly Cherry-Evans and they command $1 million-plus, so Cameron is in that range.

“Melbourne have made their priorities clear, so it’s up to Cameron now to decide what he wants to do over the next few years.”

One headache for the Dolphins is the fact Munster is contracted to Melbourne until the end of 2023.

The 27-year-old is on $1.2 million at the Storm next season, but Melbourne may be open to freeing-up $1 million in their salary cap if Munster expresses a desire to link with Bennett for the Dolphins’ foundation year.

Asked if Munster could be in Dolphins colours in 2023, Anasta said: “I have no idea, we haven’t gone that far yet.

“I don’t know if Cameron would entertain that. He is contracted for another year at Melbourne and is on a good deal there, so maybe the Dolphins are an option for 2024.”

Dolphins CEO Terry Reader said the expansion newcomers would be prepared to wait 12 months for Munster to don the red-and-white jumper.

Is Wayne Bennett finally going to land himself a marquee back?

“We’re not building a house of cards – we are setting up a club for the future,” he said.

“We’re not just looking at who’s available in 2023. We are looking at who’s available in 2024 and 2025.

“We’re not just building a club for one year. If we have to wait 12 months to get the player we want then we will.

“Wayne has said that we could fill our roster by next weekend if we wanted the second and third-best players.

“That’s not what we’re doing. We’re building a squad that can be competitive from day one but also setting up the foundations to be successful long term.

“That means being patient so if we have to wait for the right player then we will.

“We are after the best players. If they are from Queensland, that’s even better.”