Cameron Munster has apologised for kicking the head of Sydney Roosters centre Joseph Manu late in the NRL grand final, and insists he’s not a dirty player.
Munster was breathing a sigh of relief on Monday when he was charged with contrary conduct rather than kicking or striking, leaving him free to claim the Kangaroos No.6 jersey for Tests against the Kiwis and Tonga this month.
His charge attracted just a $1400 fine and no weeks on the sideline – Munster would have faced a ban had he been found guilty of the higher-level offences.
The Melbourne five-eighth created unwanted history at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night, sin-binned twice – once for a professional foul in the first half and then for lashing out at Manu’s head with his boot in the 78th minute.
“There was no malice in it, I am very sorry for what happened,” Munster said.
“I am not usually not that type of player I think (it was) the pressure of playing in a grand final.
“It’s not something I usually do and I apologised to Manu.
I didn’t really make a lot of contact. I wasn’t trying to kick him hard, it was just a brain explosion and I am very regretful at the moment.”
The incident capped off an unhappy night for Munster, who was arguably been Melbourne’s best player this year heading into their 21-6 defeat to the minor premiers.
“I don’t want to be known as that sort of player. I am very sorry,” he said.
“I was just really frustrated with the way we were playing. We couldn’t complete, we couldn’t kick the ball, we couldn’t get the ball out of our own end.”
The 24-year-old was named in the Kangaroos’ 19-man squad for the internationals in New Zealand, while Clive Churchill medallist Luke Keary was only named as cover in case Munster faced a more serious charge.
Munster is expected to start at five-eighth for Australia as part of a generational change, following the retirements of long-term halves Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk.
Michael Morgan was unavailable with a season-ending bicep injury, while James Maloney is out due to a neck injury.
Mac
Guest
It was a disgusting and disgraceful act and something I have never seen in 30 plus years of watching Rubgy league or any other sport for that matter. Absolutely shocked he didn't get a lengthy suspension. Very surprised he would even be selected ahead of Maloney in the first place but that's another discussion alltogether.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I've seen headbutts with no force applied let go without penalty. It matters a lot how hard someone kicks or headbutts someone. The action is still wrong but it needs to be taken for what it was. A very mild knee or elbow to a player is wrong as well but the result is harmless and silly and not the same as one with a viscous intent.
Doc79
Roar Rookie
The trip? That's now a fine also.
Wayne Turner
Guest
Frizell was great in origin,and so was Tommy T. We will see, but I think Addo-Carr,Keary and Cleary were very unlucky to miss out. Aussies start losing and his job will certainly be in trouble,history shows we don't put up with losing for the Aussie league team...
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
BTW its an alleged neutral ground but Munster gets the Hit the Toad Jack and nanna na Goodbye when he leaves the field - is that appropriate and maybe 2 yellows should be a red?
Laurel
Guest
A disgraceful act - should have been given at least two weeks. No excuse that he 'didn't kick him very hard'.
James T
Guest
The record books are the only place where it matters but he should have been sent off. If that happens in round 3 I say he gets a month so it’s no wonder Melbourne think they can do what they like.
db
Guest
It's not that long ago that tripping was considered bad enough to see a player sent off and suspended for multiple games. Now, it's just a fine. Something has gone awry.
3 R M
Guest
Mal actually built that team and the system to rejuvenate and sustain it .now if you think he is biased why is Frizzell and Tommy T in the squad when both were out played in origin .he is an astute rep coach with a good eye for team makeup and youth development. If the players don't perform they will not be picked again, most likely untill their form dictates .Mal will have to lose a match at some time you would think, so if is in these tests it's just transition, and no one with any brains would think it would put his job in jeopardy I'm backing they will win both.
Fight fair
Guest
Doesnt matter how hard he kicked him, the fact is he kicked him in the head.A $1400 in would be nothing to a high profile NRL player. in not suspending Munster the NRL are basicaly saying kicking oppenent in the back of the head is acceptable behaviour. As far as Munster saying he doesnt want o be knownas "that player", he kicked a bloke inthe back of the head. He is "that player"!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It was just a silly action from Munster but when deciding on the punishment it would be equally as silly not to take into account the lack of force. He was penalised and put in the bin as well as fined. A week or two on the sidelines could be added to that I believe. Plenty of dangerous play was let go in 2018 including Turbo Tom getting kneed in the head while trying to score a try and Smith trying to snap someones arm but the truth of the matter is that this was never going to hurt anyone .
Wayne Turner
Guest
Yeap. I think Mal won't last long in the job,when the Aussies start losing (I think they will. ). I and anyone could have coached the QLD team Mal did.
Wayne Turner
Guest
This. He's lucky Manu didn't get a serious head injury,from a dog act done on purpose. Pathetic non-punishment.
Wayne Turner
Guest
Pathetic decision. Should have got a lengthy suspension.Grade should have been higher. Accidents happen in rugby league,and players can and do get weeks suspensions for them. While in this case.A player on purpose,knees a defenseless player in the back of the head,while on the ground. A dog attack,that yet again sets a really bad example,and plain wrong.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Shockingly bad decision for a shockingly bad act. Handing him a Kangaroo jersey just after the fact shows how blinded big Mal is by all things QLD. He should be sending a message that if you want to play for Australia you need to be a better class of person. Ban him from the Kangaroos for 12 months and make him earn his way back. If we can do that to two of our best cricket players, even though they had faced their official sanctions, then surely we can do it for someone who kicks blokes in the head while they are down. I'm sure Munster is regretful, but he needs to take a long hard look at himself. This isn't the first time I've noticed he loses the plot when he starts losing. It's a worrying sign.
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
I mean, baby Jesus. The NRL has it's head up so high in there it has lost touch of things and reality! I'd say this incident is up there with Greg Bird's kneeing of Shane Marteene all those years ago in which he served a 10 week ban. And this grub gets off with just a fine! I'd leave him on the sidelines for 3 weeks at the least.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Maybe I’m a dinosaur but I can’t help but feel the game has lost perspective when someone can just get a fine for kicking another player in the head...but then there’s a media circus and fan outrage, legal teams and loopholes for a shoulder (or pec) to shoulder contact shoulder charge. Since when is kicking someone in the head ok? It never has been and has always been treated as one of those lower than low acts like knees, elbow or biting. If Munster had thrown a punch there would be outrage and he’d probably get two weeks but kicking an opponent in the head, just a fine and here’s your Kangaroo jersey. I was frustrated, it’s not my go, I won’t do it again, I didn’t kick him hard are not reasonable excuses.