Just over a year after he was kicked out of the leadership group and almost sacked following the white-powder scandal, Cameron Munster has revealed his desire to captain the Storm.
Munster bounced back from controversy in emphatic fashion last year, producing his most consistent football after abstaining from alcohol. The Queensland and Australia playmaker knocked back huge interest from rivals to recommit to the Storm on a four-year deal and finished off the season with a World Cup victory with the Kangaroos.
In a wide-ranging interview, Munster spoke to The Sun-Herald about how close he came to leaving Melbourne, his feud with Wayne Bennett, the future of Storm coach Craig Bellamy and whether the No.6 will impose another booze ban on himself.
However, the most intriguing comments were about the club captaincy. The departure of long-time skipper Jesse Bromwich, coupled with the fact co-captain Christian Welch won’t be on the field for the entire 80 minutes after returning from injury, has created an on-field leadership void.
Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes will be contenders to skipper the side, and Munster said he was also interested.
“I’d love to be captain, there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “Whether that’s now, in a year’s time or whenever that is. At this current stage, I’m just happy to be doing what I’m doing.
Cameron Munster is now set to finish his career as a one-club player.Credit:Getty Images
“If they think it will elevate my game a bit more by having a bit more responsibility on my shoulders, I’m more than happy to take it.”
The loss of Felise Kaufusi, and Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, to the Dolphins has robbed the Storm of valuable experience. Munster is prepared to step up, if required.
“A lot of leadership and experience has left the club, and I’m probably the most senior player at the club,” he said. “That’s scary to think.
“There’s a lot of speculation and question marks over whether I can lead the team. I’m getting better and improving, but there’s still a long way to go in that leadership mindset.
‘If they think it will elevate my game a bit more by having a bit more responsibility on my shoulders, I’m more than happy to take it.’
Cameron Munster on the Storm captaincy
“On field I can be a leader if I fix up a couple of things. In saying that, I can talk to the boys a little bit better with the way I had things off field, guide them in the right direction and not make the same mistakes I made. I can lead them in that sense.
“I’m probably more an action man than a leadership talker. Whether I’m a leader on the field, captain on the field and not be the captain as the club’s face, that could be the direction they go down.
“It depends on what direction they want to go and, whatever they do, I’m sure the club is in good hands.”
Munster credits “getting off the piss for 12 months” as one of the reasons he produced some of his best football. The 28-year-old will soon decide whether another booze ban is required.
“I’m talking about it not only with my partner but the coaches as well; what my best footy will look like,” he said.
“I’ve had a few questions from Craig [Bellamy] and Lachlan [Penfold], our performance manager, whether I will go again this year. I’m not entirely sure, but I won’t be doing the old [drinking] every weekend, that kind of stuff whenever there is an event on.
“I was very consistent last year, and it might be the way I go. I’m not too sure.
“I’m not putting a permanent thing on myself like a booze ban, but I know for a fact that for me to play my best footy, and for this team, is to stay off it.
“Those 12 months were obviously a bit of a hard time with that, but in saying that I have a bit more mental strength and control over that kind of stuff.
Cameron Munster taking on Scotland at the World Cup.Credit:Getty
“I can probably go out for a beer or two and not make a fool of myself. In saying that, I don’t really know what I’m doing this year, it’s still up in the air.”
Munster was the biggest name off contract last year. The Dolphins thought they had their man after tabling a massive deal, only for the five-eighth to change his mind at the last minute.
“Very, very, very close,” Munster said about how close he came to accepting Bennett’s offer.
“I was ready to tell some of the boys I was leaving. I made the decision with my manager and then had another chat with Trippy [Storm chairman Matt Tripp] and the board and some coaches, and it was in my best interest [to stay].
Cameron Munster is eager for Storm coach Craig Bellamy to continue.Credit:Getty
“To be completely honest, the club has given me so much, they could have easily shown me the door.
“It wasn’t about the money at all; money comes and goes. This is what I was really looking for, to play until I’m 33 at such a great club as the Storm …
“The crazy part is I’m not a stressful guy, I’m a laid-back person where nothing fazes me, but that was the most stressful time of my life.
“I didn’t want to leave the club, and I’m not going to now, but at one stage we had our foot out the door.”
Bennett publicly unloaded on Munster after learning of his decision via the media, claiming the Storm star should have told him personally. Asked if they have spoken since, Munster said: “Nah, I’ve let it go.
“Me and my management felt it was best not to open up old wounds. At the end of the day, he wanted me to come there, I was very interested in going there and, unfortunately, it panned out the way it did.
“Would I have liked to have handled it better? Probably, yes. But at the end of the day, with the comments that were made, I’ll just leave it at that.”
With Munster’s future settled, speculation has shifted to whether Bellamy will coach on beyond this season.
“He’s given me an indication of what he’s doing, but it’s not my place to say,” Munster said. “It’s his life and career, we’ll wait for everyone to hear it from the horse’s mouth with what he’s doing.”
Pressed on whether he’d like Bellamy to coach on, Munster said: “For sure, he’s got so much to give to the game.
“He’s got a knack for it and a passion for it. When you’ve got those two attributes and still want to be a great coach, I can’t see why he wouldn’t go further.
“The last couple of years he’s said he’s going to give it up and then re-signed. Whatever it is that keeps dragging him back in, he’s got a passion for it.
“He loves his footy, he’s mad for it. He can’t just sit at home and watch TV, he has to be doing something.”
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