NRL News: Munster puts contract chat on hold, Panther banned but can play finals, Hull give Hodgson the heave-ho

Cameron Munster has put all contract negotiations on hold until Melbourne’s NRL season is over so he can focus on the finals, starting with Saturday’s sudden death clash against Canberra.

Munster is contemplating a multi-million dollar deal to join new NRL club the Dolphins and said on Tuesday he had to consider his partner Bianca, who is from Queensland, and the mother of their baby son, Jaxson.

The Storm have topped up their offer to keep the star playmaker at the club beyond 2023, but Munster said he was pulling down the shutters on his future until the finals were done.

“I’ve spoken to (chairman) Matt Tripp and the club and I’m going to put a hold on negotiations until the final series is done – I just want to focus on finals and hopefully go deep in September,” Munster said.

“We’ve got a big game this Saturday against the Raiders so looking forward to that.

“If it was only about myself then I’d love to stay but at the same time I’ve got a young family that I need to worry about and obviously she’s from Queensland so we need to make sure we will make the right decision.”

Fifth-placed Melbourne are hosting an eighth-placed Raiders outfit who have no fears about playing at AAMI Park, winning on their last four trips.

Cameron Munster. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

They beat the Storm in round 18 this year 20-16 while the teams squared off in Melbourne in the 2019 finals with Canberra again triumphant 12-10.

Munster said he felt the Raiders matched up well because they played a similar style of football.

“It’s similar to what we’re about, trying to grind the other team into the ground and the Raiders have done that to us,” the 27-year-old said.

“We need to make sure we play with that mentality of just going through their middle.

“They’re big boys and if we start to get into that grind it could end up being bad for us.”

Melbourne have received a boost with halfback Jahrome Hughes set to play after missing their final-round loss to Parramatta with a calf injury.

Training lightly on Tuesday, Hughes said the injury had improved with the extra time off.

“It was too much of a risk to play as there was a potential chance to miss the finals,” Hughes told AAP. “It didn’t feel too good at the end of the week but I feel much better for it this week and should be ready to go.”

Munster felt the finals series was very even, with the bottom teams on level pegging with the frontrunners.

The Storm need to win four straight to claim title, which no NRL team outside the top four has previously managed.

“It’s going to be tough for us, I’m not going to sugar-coat it but we’ve got the calibre and depth of players to go well,” he said.

“The effort is there for us but we have to go out and execute our game plan and make sure everyone’s in the right spot, and we do that and hold on to the ball we can give any team in this competition a shake.”

May banned can play finals

Panthers winger Taylan May has been handed a two-game ban by the National Rugby League but will be allowed to play in the finals.

The NRL on Tuesday announced the rookie speedster had breached the code of conduct following an incident in Maroochydore on October 8 last year when he was involved in a scuffle with an 18-year-old man at a bar.

May was found guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm by Maroochydore Magistrates Court on August 31 but had no conviction recorded and was fined $1000 for what the judge described as “reprehensible” and “cowardly” actions.

The NRL’s ban will not start until Round 1 next year while he has also been fined $7500 with half of that figure suspended and has been ordered to attend counselling, education and training recommended by the NRL’s Education and Wellbeing team.

According to the NRL statement, officials “considered a number of factors including when the incident took place, the date at which the proceedings were finalised and the impact of a match suspension at this time of year”.

He was rested from Penrith’s Round 25 loss to North Queensland but will play in Friday’s Qualifying Final against Parramatta at BlueBet Stadium.

The Panthers issued a statement to say “the club has five business days to respond to the breach notice and will be making no further comment at this time”.

(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Eels hit back at title window claims

Parramatta insist their NRL premiership window will not shut after this season despite facing a mass exodus after this year’s title tilt.

Eels players and officials are well aware they will hit the finals in the best form in recent memory, after being knocked out in week two in four of the past five years.

A win over Penrith on Friday night will finally break that streak, qualifying them for their first preliminary final since way back in 2009.

But there is also the reality of greater challenges ahead.

Hooker Reed Mahoney headlines the list of departing players after the finals, alongside Marata Niukore, Oregon Kaufusi, Tom Opacic and Ray Stone.

Star backrower Isaiah Papali’i was also farewelled by the club last weekend as a departing player, after his management told Wests Tigers he would fulfil a three-year deal signed last year for 2023 onwards.

But the 23-year-old himself again refused to confirm he was committed to the move to the struggling club on Monday, baulking when asked if the issue was yet resolved.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“I am solely focused on what’s ahead of us and it’s obviously an awesome opportunity,” Papali’i told reporters.

“I don’t really want to be talking about that. My focus is this Friday and the massive opportunity that I have at this club at the moment.

“I’m pretty adamant on just focusing on what I’ve got right now and looking after those things when it does come to that time.”

Even with Papali’i expected to go, the Eels insist this season is not a case of now or never.

Josh Hodgson is the club’s biggest-name recruit at hooker on return from an early season-ending knee injury, with J’maine Hopgood and Jirah Momoisea the Eels’ other signings.

But half Mitch Moses said while there was motivation to win a title together before the impending exits of several who have been part of the Eels’ rise, the club’s hopes would not end in 2022.

“They’ve pretty much come through the system here and to send them off on a high note would be very good,” Moses said.

“This is a good time to do it, we do have a good side.

“But it’s not really this year (as our last shot). We also have good players coming next year as well.”

Second-rower Shaun Lane also said the club’s nucleus remained strong, with he and Dylan Brown among several big improvers in 2022.

“We’ve structured our team and salary cap so we have a good core group of players besides those going,” Lane said.

“We can rely on the core group of senior players to turn up each week.

“We can assist in the development of other younger players coming through.

“We trust the coaches that they’ll bring through some good young kids and Parramatta has a big catchment area and some great juniors too.”

Eels fans at CommBank Stadium. (Photo by Steven Markham/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Hodgson sunk at Hull

Brett Hodgson has left Super League club Hull FC after two modest seasons as coach.

It was the first senior coaching role for the former Wests Tigers fullback whose departure was stated by the club to be by ‘mutual consent’.

Hull lost only won of their first seven games under the 44-year-old but trailed away to finish a disappointing eighth in the 12-team competition.

This season Saturday’s humiliating 36-4 derby defeat by injury-hit rivals Hull KR condemned the black-and-whites to a ninth-placed finish.

Hull chairman Adam Pearson said: “On behalf of the board, staff and supporters of Hull FC, I would like to thank Brett for the commitment and dignity he has demonstrated during his two years with the club.

“Brett joined us during a period of transition and the disruption caused by COVID–19, as well as facing further challenges presented by injuries and suspensions.

“The process of appointing a new head coach is underway, with a focused shortlist to identify the right person to get the best out of our senior squad, but also someone who will continue to embrace our long-term strategy from grassroots to first team.

Hodgson enjoyed a stellar playing career as a fullback for Western Suburbs and Wests Tigers, with whom he won the 2005 NRL premiership, either side of four years with Parramatta Eels.

He then played in Super League for Huddersfield, where he won the 2009 Man of Steel Award, and Warrington, with whom he won both the Challenge Cup and the Lance Todd Trophy.

Hodgson had been working with Wests Tigers as an assistant coach, doubling up as Western Suburbs Magpies head coach, when he got the call from Hull in late 2020.

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