Melbourne have hosed down claims Cameron Munster’s future at the NRL premiers is on thin ice.
The Storm, Queensland and Australian playmaker has recently found himself at the centre of speculation about his off-field behaviour after an altercation with teammate Ben Hunt during the Kangaroos’ World Cup campaign.
NRL.com on Wednesday claimed that Storm management were growing increasingly weary of Munster’s continual off-field issues and he was no guarantee to see out his contract, which runs until the end of 2019.
However the Storm firmly denied the reports, with football director Frank Ponissi saying the 23-year-old would see out his deal in the Victorian capital.
“I don’t want to comment but we’re not considering releasing Cameron,” Ponissi told AAP.
Munster is widely viewed as the future of the club and is being sized up to take over the side following the retirement of Cameron Smith and Billy Slater.
He is this year expected to inherit the Maroons and Kangaroos playmaking duties following the representative retirements of Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.
However he has found himself at the centre of several off-field controversies over the last two years.
In November, he was sent home to face Storm management after his run in with Hunt, who this week played down the incident.
There has been growing speculation about his off-field behaviour and whether it could affect his representative future.
In 2016, he was blacklisted from State of Origin for 12 months by Queensland management after breaking curfew during an Emerging Maroons camp.
Earlier this month Queensland selector Gene Miles sent a warning to Munster about his behaviour, saying “we don’t give Queensland jerseys away to mug lairs.”
Big Daddy
Guest
That's the same John Lee who was CEO of south's.???
Peter Phelps
Guest
The Storm would if this was real and he was another "Todd Carney" waiting to happen. The Storm and Bellamy have set their stall out very clearly on this front and they won't wear unprofessionalism for long. I do hope Munster sorts himself out, he has a fantastic career ahead of him if he chooses to take it.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Just a media beat up as per usual. This off-season has been so sanitised that these idiot Journos have to make it all up. As if the Storm would get rid of one of their most promising youngsters. Only amateurish Club administers like John Lee would ever entertain such a thought Have you seen how thin the papers are these days?
1969
Guest
Wests Tigers to make Huge signing news next week,for next year and beyond.Last week I would have said it could be RTS,now me thinks it might be Cameron Munster.Nah we need some-one with a bigger rap-sheet.Ben Barba to Wests Tigers next year and beyond.
Joe
Roar Rookie
No matter how good Munster is I don't think Bellamy is going to suffer that type of behavior. I think he's been given his warning and if he continues he will be gone. That said he seems to have done very well in the off-season, came back early to train with the new boys. Maybe it is all a beat up.
matth
Guest
Really need the footy to start so there is something decent to write about.
JohnB
Guest
Good to hear no mug lairs have ever played State of Origin for Qld. To be fair to Munster, he wasn't on his lonesome in getting a 12 month ban from Qld representation over the breaking curfew incident. And was it 5 or 6 of them who played Origin in 2017?
Albo
Guest
Wow ! Maybe Gus Gould had someone else in mind in letting Moylan & Cartwright go ? Panthers don't mind the odd "mug lair" . How's Cam's behaviour these days ?
Brian S
Guest
What a load of codswollop !!!!
Adam Hallinan
Guest
Wouldn't the " several off-field controversies over the last two years." be on the mild end of the spectrum for NRL players though??