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NRL News: Munster's four-year deal confirmed by club, Leilua stood down over incident, Hasler on the brink

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6th October, 2022
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Cameron Munster has signed a four-year extension that will see him remain at Melbourne Storm until the end of the 2027 season, as the Queensland Origin star dealt a blow to NRL newcomers the Dolphins.

Munster told Storm management his decision just hours before flying out for the World Cup.

“The club has always been supportive of me, even through some of the more difficult times, and I appreciate [Matt Tripp] Justin, Frank and Craig giving me the time I needed to think through the decision with Bianca and my family,” Munster said in a statement.

“It is such an important decision for me, and in the end, Melbourne is where my heart is, Melbourne is where I want to play my footy, and Melbourne is the club I want to be a part of for the rest of my career.

“I’ve always wanted to be a one club player. Storm gave me the chance to play NRL and the club has become a second home for me since making my debut.

“Both Bianca and I have family back in Queensland but we are settled in Melbourne, we have a great support network and we look forward to growing our young family in the years to come.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this process, and in my career, particularly to Bianca, my son Jaxson, my parents and extended family. Thank you also to my manager Braith Anasta.

“And finally, thank you to the boys, and everyone at the club, we have an exciting future ahead.” Munster said.

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Storm chairman, Matt Tripp, said he understood the magnitude of Munster’s decision and why it took as long as it did.

“We know this was a huge decision for Cameron and Bianca to make, particularly with family based in Queensland,” Tripp said.

“Cameron will always be a Queenslander, but we are pleased he now calls Melbourne home as well.

“Cameron has matured a lot on and off the field over the last 12 months. He has worked extremely hard in the off-season to get himself into shape and has proven he is one of the best players in the NRL competition again this season, winning the Storm Player of the Year Award and Dally M five-eighth player of the year in the NRL team of the year.

“Most importantly, Cameron has never been in a better place in his life, he is happy, healthy and settled with his young family, and we are thrilled he has decided to remain with the Storm and will become a one club player.

“We are so lucky to have a player like Cameron – a generational player – committed to our Club and our city for another four years.”

Munster was a prime target for the Dolphins and their coach Wayne Bennett and was offered a deal reported to be worth $5.7 million to join the new team.

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Leilua out of World Cup

Luciano Leilua has been rubbed out of the World Cup after the Samoa second-rower was stood down under the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy.

After days of discussions, the NRL confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Leilua would be stood down and his status imposed by International Rugby League (IRL) officials.

The decision leaves Leilua’s career at a crossroads, with the 26-year-old due to face domestic violence charges in court on Tuesday.

Leilua had remained some chance of being able to play in the tournament given his bail conditions did not restrict him from leaving the country.

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His charges also do not result in a minimum sentence of more than 11 years, the requirement for a mandatory stand-down.

However the NRL have long insisted that charges relating to domestic violence would result in a discretionary stand-down, imposing the stance on Leilua.

The league had spent recent days trying to confirm with the IRL whether any decision would be carried across, before receiving confirmation it would.

(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“The decision should in no way be interpreted as a view on the innocence or guilt of the player,” the NRL said in a statement.

“The discretionary No-Fault Stand Down condition has been applied in this instance as the criminal charges involve allegations that the player has acted violently in relation to a female.

“Under the condition, the player is not permitted to participate as a player in the NRL competition or any representative competitions.

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“The no-fault stand down condition is recognised by the Rugby League World Cup.”

Leilua will be able to train with North Queensland once they return in November, however he will have to wait until the completion of court matters before a potential return.

A mid-season signing from Wests Tigers, Leilua had made a significant impact on his arrival at the club in 2022 and is a significant part of their plans for at least the next three seasons.

“The Cowboys will continue to provide support to all parties involved and will await the completion of the court process before making any further comment,” the club said in a statement.

Lane reacts to Panthers antics

Parramatta second-rower Shaun Lane claims Penrith’s premiership celebrations wouldnt’ have been replicated at the Eels had they won, despite he and teammates not personally being offended by the Panthers’ antics.

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Penrith’s party has attracted criticism from some quarters, with the intense rivalry between the Eels and Panthers carrying into the post-season.

Included in the fallout were jibes of labelling Parramatta their sons, while usually quietly-spoken prop James Fisher-Harris posted “#Whoyadaddy” on social media.

The comments related to a quote from Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai in the lead up to the grand final, when asked then if Parramatta were still Penrith’s big brother.

Penrith fans also chanted “We hate Parra” amid Monday’s team reception at BlueBet Stadium.

Luai has also added fuel to the fire by taunting Ryan Matterson’s claims on social media.

Matterson, in detailing how he thought his three-game crusher ban was “absurd”, said: “Considering Jarome Luai is kicking players and he didn’t get cited. It makes you think ‘Where is this game heading?’”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Jarome Luai of the Panthers and the Panthers players celebrate victory during the 2022 NRL Grand Final match between the Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels at Accor Stadium on October 02, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

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Luai responded by posting the quote on Instagram with three crying emojis with the chorus of Kennyon Brown’s song Cry 4 You.

The Panthers five-eighth is facing sanctions from the NRL after using the N-word in a social media post after the Grand Final win.

Lane said the Eels were not personally offended by Penrith’s antic after the 28-12 loss, but he was adamant they would have acted differently.

“They have a bit of confident arrogance about themselves and that seems to work for them,” second-rower Shaun Lane said.

“It gives them confidence on the field also. And they’ve developed a great performance around that kind of culture.

“It really works for Penrith. They’ve had an outstanding team for the past three years.

“But I don’t think you’d see that at Parramatta.”

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Lane was named Parramatta’s player of the year on Tuesday night, and said he’d initially been sheltered from Penrith’s celebrations as he doesn’t have social media.

“However someone else conducts themselves doesn’t affect me. I don’t really care what they say about me or my team,” Lane said.

“We know how we value ourselves and our own teammates. We know what is important to us and it’s not other people’s opinions.

“If that’s important to them, so be it.

“We’re not going to be bitter about other people’s comments. They can say whatever they want. If it works for them, it works for them.”

Matterson added: “At the end of the day, winners can do whatever they want. They have been the best side over the last couple of years and if they want to celebrate like that, they can.

“We haven’t spoken about it. It was pretty humorous looking at it. It did make me laugh.

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“If you take ourselves out of the situation and watch it as a whole, it was funny.”

Hasler again faces uncertain future

Pressure is again mounting on Des Hasler at Manly with former Dally M coach of the year Anthony Seibold and former Cowboys and Sharks caretaker Josh Hannay reportedly in line to replace him, potentially in the near future.

Hasler is off contract at the end of next year and despite protracted talks with chairman Scott Penn and new CEO Tony Mestrov, he has been unable to strike a deal to get an extension with the club understood to be keen on bringing in a successor to take over down the track.

Those terms have been rejected by Hasler and NewsCorp reports the matter could be brought to a head very soon with Seibold and Mestrov potentially taking over for pre-season training.

Seibold was a Sea Eagles assistant coach before guiding Souths to the finals in his one season at the helm and then having a disastrous two-year stint at Brisbane.

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 26: Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler speaks to the media during a Manly Warringah Sea Eagles NRL media opportunity at 4 Pines Park on July 26, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Hannay, who has worked closely with captain Daly Cherry-Evans at Origin level as part of his role as a Maroons assistant, is viewed as a head coach of the future after stints filling in at North Queensland and Cronulla, where he remains on staff as Craig Fitzgibbon’s deputy.

Cherry-Evans recently said some people at the club were trying to “rip the place apart”.

He was asked if it hurt there was a perception he did not get along with some players in the wake of the Pride jersey fiasco that resulted in seven of his teammates refusing to play against the Roosters.

“That was pretty funny to be honest, considering how comfortable I am with all my teammates, let alone the seven that didn’t play and the rest of the Polynesian group,” he said

“The longer it went on, and the more people I spoke to, the more I realised that these were personal attacks and … certain agendas.

“I am a big fan of Des Hasler, and I am a big fan of him being our coach for as long as he can do that. I do really love him as a bloke and I do enjoy being coached by him.”

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World Cup teammate Valentine Holmes is among the Kangaroos players who know Hannay best, having played under him at the Cowboys while also working with him in the Maroons camp.

“He’s definitely ready. He was up there at North Queensland. He’s an awesome coach,” Holmes said. “He is very smart, he has obviously played the game and knows what it takes to play at a high level.

“He has worked under some very high-level IQ coaches. If he does get that, then good on him. He is under Fitzy now and they had an awesome year. Wherever he goes he seems to do alright.”

Seibold meanwhile has spent time at Manly before as an assistant coach to Trent Barrett, and has a relationship with several players from his time there.

He was the NRL’s coach of the year in his rookie season at Souths, and after his horror two-year stint at the Broncos has worked with the Newcastle Knights and English rugby under Eddie Jones.

Beyond the pair, Shane Flanagan, Dean Young and Jason Ryles would be among other future options for Manly, with Holmes also backing Young’s credentials and claiming his former coach in Flanagan deserved another shot.

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