Melbourne star Cameron Munster is confident he’ll be fit to play in the Storm’s NRL preliminary final but admits his ongoing knee troubles are frustrating.
It looks like it won’t cost him a preliminary final appearance but Munster has clearly had enough of battling a troublesome knee.
The Storm five-eighth couldn’t hide his annoyance after limping off late in Saturday’s 36-24 qualifying final win over Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium.
Munster’s heavily strapped right knee had buckled in a tackle and as he crossed the sideline he hurled his mouthguard angrily before heading to the dressing room.
The 26-year-old will undergo scans but the initial belief of Storm officials was that Munster had merely “tweaked” his MCL and would be fit to line up in the grand final qualifier in two weeks.
Nonetheless, after already spending two separate stints on the sidelines this year with MCL problems, Munster admits the ongoing issue is a challenge.
“It is frustrating. Trying to make sure I’m out there and doing everything I can off-field to make sure she’s strong enough and whatever I can, rehab-wise,” Munster said.
“When you get a knock on it, it’s a bit sore, it gets a bit frustrating.”
Munster and his Storm teammates will face a different challenge over the next two weeks before they face the Sydney Roosters or Canberra for a place in the grand final.
The team remains at a Sunshine Coast resort, where they’ve been since June, and coach Craig Bellamy admits keeping players happy and focused will be a focus during the week off.
“This whole team’s together and one of the reasons why we got to a prelim was because of our reserve grade boys making sure we’re doing everything we can at training,” Munster said.
“We need to make sure they’re right next week and get us right, whoever we play, and it’s all about us now.
“We can’t control anything outside the bubble and that’s what we love about it.”
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Well let's see how this series goes. No doudt it will rate the house down. It would be good having an uninterrupted nrl season and international 4 team series each year. So many things happening in RL with nines, women's etc. V'landys will sort it out.
mushi
Roar Guru
Well I'm the opposite. It did sweet FA for preventing mid season injuries and post season just becomes an exhibition game. So far I can see post season origin killing the golden goose of the NRL.
Walter Black
Guest
It ends nothing. It might mean that Origin doesn't get all the players it wants or would have done at the end of the season but it has a far bigger pool of players to choose from than clubs who have just had to put up with their Origin stars coming back all banged up. So far. I am preferring a post season Origin though I accept there is a long way to go yet before that call can be made.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
I agree. This ends all talk about end of season SOO in the future. Traditionally the off season is recovery, operations, injury treatment.
Paul
Roar Guru
I can't see the Storm wanting him to play too much footy after the regular season finishes. I'd be surprised if he didn't go for treatment straight after their campaign ends, which obviously means missing SOO.