Craig Bellamy is urging Melbourne to go all out for the last member of their all-star spine, Cameron Munster, after Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant joined Ryan Papenhuyzen on long-term deals with the NRL club.
Labelled by the Storm as one of the most significant announcements in the club’s history, Hughes will stay with Melbourne until 2026 while Grant is locked in until 2025.
It comes with fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen’s future already assured until the end of 2025, making five-eighth Munster the only member of the star quartet not secured.
The announcement came at the 2012 premiership-winning team’s 10-year celebrations on Friday, with confirmation representative winger Xavier Coates’ deal was also extended until 2026.
Newcomers the Dolphins are circling Munster as a marquee player after already signing Storm trio, Maroons backrower Felise Kaufusi and Kiwi representative pair Kenny and Jesse Bromwich, ahead of their entry into the competition next season.
With injured skipper Christian Welch already locked away, coach Bellamy said Munster, who is signed until the end of 2023, needed to be a priority.
“With Paps (Papenhuyzen), he’s already re-affirmed his commitment to the club and with them two (Grant and Hughes) now, we’ve just got to get Munster now,” Bellamy said.
“We’ve got to try to hog-tie him and get him down to sign the contract.
“The club will have done really well if they can do that but certainly having Jahrome and Harry on board, gives us some real strike for our future as they’re really important players in key positions.”
Munster’s aent, Braith Anasta, recently revealed doubt over Bellamy’s future was playing a role in Munster’s uncertainty about re-signing while also saying his client would have to take a pay cut to remain in the Victorian capital.
The Storm have already lost Kiwi representative pair Kenny and Jesse Bromwich to the NRL’s newest franchise for next year.
Hughes said the re-signing of his teammates had played a role in him committing his future to Melbourne. He said that the players talked about their plans.
“That played a big part in it,” the 27-year-old said.
“Us fellas were talking behind the scenes about what each other were doing and we wanted everyone to stay and we got most of the boys to stay so that was a big reason in why I re-signed, just to have these two fellas sign as well.”
Bellamy also remains a moving target for the Storm, given an extension beyond March to make a decision on his coaching future.
Having marked his 500th NRL game in round two of his 20th season with Melbourne, Bellamy has committed until the end of 2026 but the club is waiting to hear when he wants to transition from head coach to a director of coaching role.
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