Storm star Cameron Munster will reportedly decide between the Dolphins and Melbourne when his contract saga comes to an end around the November 1 deadline.
Munster has been involved in a bidding war between the Storm and the Dolphins, with the Tigers and Bulldogs also interested in his services.
However, Munster’s former teammate Cameron Smith recently spoke to Munster and believes his decision is now a two-horse race between the Dolphins and the Storm.
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“I think the way Cameron was talking there it’s either the Storm or the Dolphins,” Smith said on SEN radio.
“There was talk around the Bulldogs and the Tigers wanting his services in 2024 and beyond but I think that’s now been ruled out with the way he’s talking.”
The Dolphins are reportedly willing to offer Munster $1.3 million a season, which would make him the highest paid player in the game.
Meanwhile, the Storm upped their offer from $800,000 annually to around $1 million a season in an offer which left Munster and his manager Braith Anasta impressed.
Munster has repeatedly said his decision will not solely be based around money, with his wife and child key to his next contract call.
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Smith believes family will play a huge part in Munster’s final decision.
“He’s not a young man anymore where he just has to worry about himself,” Smith said.
“This next decision, it has an effect on his partner Bianca and their young child as well.
“He’s not just making decisions for himself it’s about his family as well.”
Munster is torn between staying loyal to the club he loves in the Storm and returning home to Queensland on a deal that would set his family up for life.
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The Dolphins deal would allow Munster and wife Bianca and child to be closer to family for the next phase of their life.
Munster has said he would stay at the Storm as long as Craig Bellamy is coach.
However, Bellamy is likely to move into an off-field role with the team after 2023, which is the final year of Munster’s current contract.
Munster has put contract talks on hold until after the season to focus on winning a premiership with the Storm.
The NRL salary cap is set to increase in 2023, which is why so many players including Munster are reluctant to commit their future too far in advance, with the potential to cost them a bigger pay day.
The 27-year-old has scored 46 tries in 172 games for the Storm since his debut in 2014 and won premierships in 2017 and 2020, while he has also played 15 origins for Queensland and four Tests for the Kangaroos over his Melbourne career.
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