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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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?’”
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
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.”
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.
“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.
(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.”
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.
The Mexican
Roar Rookie
I did say Martin is arrogant & I haven't changed my mind about that and the people saying Melbourne was interested in Panthers players was the Sydney media, the point I was correcting was you mentioning Dylan Edwards as part of my original comment who I think is a great person on and off the field, I was simply saying that I didn't mention Edwards in my original comment. As for the rest of your comments you sound like Donald Trump, using arguments that make no sense whatsoever, read my comments properly before you start throwing rocks!
Charles
Guest
What's this got to do with South's, you are full of it just completely making up numbers, you know there are sites which track crowd figures and they do no align with anything you said. Look up figures , Souths were never at 1500-2000, you are a complete liar as you have no case. In fact Penrith figures are much worse then I guessed getting 5831 in 2007. The 90s were pretty bad with 4000 regularly attending Panthers games. I'm sure you are a true fan and they are gonna need you when they are down next which knowing Penrith isn't too far away. The point is they are not doing anything to reinforce the extra 15000 band wagon fans with this attitude. When they are back down again the whole PR will change back to the we are blue collar working class underdogs club again which no one will buy. Picked the wrong battle for this one mate.
Richard POWELL
Roar Rookie
Don't worry Laney. Your Eels would have more chance of winning a GF if is was played on the moon!
What the !
Guest
Ho, Hum ….. The Cardinal Myrtle’s back . Let’s have a snooze .
Westie
Guest
Yes, tough defending the middle . Plus Grant is not a big player. Play him for most of the game & the opponents big forwards would be coming in his direction often.
EastOfDivide
Guest
As you said Martin was arrogant. Or did you forget as soon as you texted it? Sorry, you’re a Melbourne supporter. My apology for that. Then that’s the club who’s players make comments about & think they’re better than Penrith players. As some Penrith players come from Mt.Druitt & are mostly from Sydney’s west. Which they have said! That’s even worse than South’s. At the same time , Melbourne doesn’t mind buying players from Penrith. The last couple knocked them back . Plenty of very arrogant players from Melbourne. So you must have some knowledge about that subject I suppose?
Justin
Guest
I can see your reasoning. Yet Ivan Cleary coached at Penrith before most of the current list of players were there. Then he came back . How did he go the first time? Last year many were talking about the Penrith fitness trainers . Newcastle got them to go to Newcastle. How’d that all go? Maybe Cronulla were just luckier with the season just gone & Moylan was putting in to save his career. He did get a new contract. You are talking about the player who had a long contract at Penrith. Left due to mental issues that needed to be dealt with. Then was fine to play for Cronulla at the start of the very next season.
chris
Guest
Atkins was in the bunker for the Grand Final. He’s the son of a former Parramatta player & a Parramatta member. So any decisions going up were made by him. You seriously think that the decisions made by the referees in the GF this year decided the game’s result? The best team won. Again , then you’re going back a year. To when the Parramatta’s players son & Parramatta member was refereeing a game? That had nothing to do with Parramatta. Against South’s this season in the semi final. Penrith had 4 tries disallowed. The referees boss later admitted that 2 of them were fair tries. Also an argument that they were all actually tries. You probably think South’s were robbed there as well. In any case , another novel by you here . Just reveals your true motive & reason for your continual comments & built up hatred. Penrith kept beating South Sydney. Let it out. The truth will set you Free!
Justin
Guest
There’s a story that St.George are preparing to make Martin a huge offer. On the same page was a story about an awards night where 27 out of 30 St.George players didn’t turn up. If you were Martin, you wouldn’t like the sound of that.
Lance Boil
Roar Rookie
Things that make you "hmmmm"
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
That's a shrewd comment, but I would not be surprised if Craig Bellamy decided to play his second string #9 off the bench and use him like he used Cheese this season. When you think about it, expecting any #9 to make 45 tackles and be creative is a really big ask.
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
"So with so many injuries at Manly in that time, what was Hasler supposed to do?" Dare I suggest he should have hired some new fitness trainers / assistant coaches? Lest you think I'm being flippant, have a look at the number of games and the quality that Matt Moyland showed at Cronulla this season, after five years of under-performance through chronic injury. He started on a new fitness regime. Worked for him. Maybe it would work for Turbo and others as well.
Muzz
Guest
I wish Les Boyd was available.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
At least Seibs has had the experience of walking straight into a football club that was about to implode. His experience at the Broncos would undoubtedly put him in good stead for a similar backdrop at Manly ( he may also apply for the gig at the Tigers, Knights or Dogs, just a thought).
The Mexican
Roar Rookie
I’m not a Souths supporter, I support the Storm and my comments are regarding on field behaviour not off it, Martin could be Mother Teresa off field for all I care, don’t twist my comments to suit you! I didn’t mention Dylan Edwards on my comments, I think he’s a decent person on and off the field so, I’m not sure why you mentioned him at all. one last thing what people write here are their opinions, you don’t have to agree with or like them
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"Shaun Lane claims Penrith’s premiership celebrations wouldnt’ have been replicated at the Eels had they won" That is my point. NO other club, other than the arrogant Panthers, would have behaved like the Panthers in getting carried away with their conceited celebrations and disrespecting other clubs. The Panthers are a disgrace of the NRL's making. I also blame FOX Sports for helping to inflate their already inflated egos by doing a post-grand final special review of last year's GF with key players on lounge chairs on the Accor stadium field. When has that ever done before? Talking about feeding a narcissist complex!
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
No, Tony. Ben Hornby is enjoying himself at the Rabbitohs and assisting JD in doing wonders with Souths attack. :stoked: :thumbup:
MW
Roar Rookie
Yeah mate you hit the nail on the head. Sam Burgess is still with the club. A man who did horrible things to his partner and her family, making her life hell. But that’s ok because atleast he didn’t MOVE THE BALL 1 METRE TOWARDS THE POSTS WHEN HE WAS TAKING A CONVERSION!!!!! All of this complaining of Penrith is some pretty insane nit picking. I think some people on here need to get a hobby
Panthers
Guest
Yep.. Even those who don’t turn up at all the games. Doesn’t mean they suddenly started supporting another club. I’m a life member. Don’t remember so many South’s supporters for example, turning up to their home games when they were broke & not winning any games? In fact many of their home games they had about : 1,500-2,000 odd people people at their home games altogether. So take the away supporters out of that crowd & what’s left ? Yet , so many proud South’s supporters appear now. What else do you have? :stoked:
MW
Roar Rookie
I never said he was racist. Treating people differently because of their skin tone happens a lot in this country. I see it all the time. It’s a cultural thing for us, people don’t even realise they are doing it, but things are getting better. It just comes across as odd when there is a bunch of quiet achievers in that team who do great things with no ego. Good family men. Yet the only good players mentioned are two white blokes. Like I mentioned earlier To’o and Leota, they are never in trouble, never brag, they just do their best. Yet they are considered ‘mug lairs’ while Edwards and Yeo are celebrated.