Returning Melbourne star Cameron Munster will undergo double hip surgery at the end of the season to relieve pressure on his troublesome groin.
Munster will play his first game since Magic Round on Friday night when the competition leaders meet an injury-ravaged Parramatta at CommBank Stadium.
Back in action: Cameron Munster returns on Friday night.Credit: Getty Images
The Storm remain undecided whether Tyran Wishart or Sua Fa’alogo will make way for Munster, and are not opposed to keeping both of them on the bench.
Munster tore his adductor tendon in round 11 – he suffered a groin injury during the pre-season when he slipped in a hotel shower in Fiji – but has been back in full training with the team the past fortnight.
While he avoided surgery this time around, Munster said it was inevitable he would go under the knife at season’s end. It means he will be unavailable for the Kangaroos and their Tests series.
“I didn’t need surgery, I tore the ligament which surgeons go in and cut – I did a surgical tear myself – so I saved the club some money [by avoiding surgery],” Munster told this masthead on Thursday.
The Storm star hobbles off during Magic Round.Credit: Getty Images
“There’s no ligament left, so there’s nothing to worry about [in terms of reinjuring it].
“But I’ll need both hips done at the end of the year. I’ll get both done. A lot of players get it, especially if they kick a lot. These old hips and legs are coming to an end.
“One of the major reasons I’m getting groin pain is because of the imbalance in the hips. I can’t do anything until the end of the year.
“Recovery for the hips will be nine to ten weeks. So there goes the off-season.”
Munster has enjoyed watching the Storm maintain their dominance in his absence from the coach’s box on game days, and rated Wishart “one of the in-form five-eighths in the comp, and the most improved as well”.
He was mindful of returning too early, and risking upsetting the cohesion of a winning team, but added “it was in the back of my mind I needed some games under the belt if I want to play finals”.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said of Munster’s return: “It’s good to have him back. We’re not expecting miracles from him. He’s only played a few games for us this year.
“We just expect him to do his job on Friday, and hopefully, slowly but surely, he’ll find his form and feet, and doesn’t get injured again.”
Brad Arthur oversaw his last game in charge of Parramatta when they lost to Melbourne, and the club have been rocked by injuries since the coach was sacked.
The Eels remain hopeful winger Sean Russell will be fit to play as he continues to recover from a nasty knee gash.
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