Cameron Munster has huge respect for South Sydney and NSW star Latrell Mitchell – but as a proud Queenslander, there was no way he was setting foot in the Blues’ HQ on Thursday.
The Storm held their captain’s run at Sydney Olympic Park ahead of Friday’s clash against Souths, but Munster refused to set foot inside the gym and changing facilities provided by NSW Rugby League.
Munster took one look at the giant photo of James Tedesco scoring the winning try to seal the 2019 series that hangs above the gym and just shook his head.
“I’m not going in there,” a smiling Munster told the Herald. ”I’d rather stink a bit longer and walk back to the hotel to shower. I’m not welcome in there, and I don’t want to be welcomed in there.”
Munster was a lot more accommodating when it came to Mitchell and the danger he posed to the Storm at the neighbouring Accor Stadium.
The pair’s friendship grew when they toured with the Kangaroos at last year’s World Cup, and Munster said Mitchell thrived on being a big-game player.
Cameron Munster at Thursday’s captain’s run at the NSWRL Sydney Olympic Park HQ.Credit:Melbourne Storm
“He’s a player who loves those big moments, most of the time he delivers, and it’s why so many people love coming to watch him play,” Munster said.
“He has that X factor where he can create something out of nothing. We have to be on our toes, and hopefully ‘Trell Mit’ is not being ‘Trell Mit’.
“We need to keep a straight line, and if we don’t give him a straight line, it could be a big scoreline.
“We can’t afford to shoot out of the line. As much as you want to take his time and space away from him, that’s when he thrives – you can’t create those triangles [in defence] for him because that’s when he gets through the gaps.”
Manly handled the Mitchell threat well during last Saturday’s clash, and it is rare he is kept quiet two weeks in a row.
Munster made a successful return from a broken ring finger last Friday against the Wests Tigers, but said he would continue to play with a guard the next month in the hope the digit stays straight.
“I’m struggling at times to grip the ball, but that’s only because of the guard,” he said.
Storm rookie Jonah Pezet impressed in the halves for the suspended Jahrome Hughes, and Munster said he was someone who liked to “chance his arm” and would have a long career in the top flight if he continued to learn from his senior teammates.
Meanwhile, coach Craig Bellamy said he had been given another few weeks to make a call on his 2024 movements, but in all likelihood this would be his final season at the helm.
When asked about former Storm favourite and current Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater replacing him, Bellamy said: “I’m sure if that’s the way the [club] went, he [Slater] would do a great job.
“Billy has got a few things going on away from footy with his horses and his commentary. Everyone knows how well prepared he is for his commentary, how well prepared he was as a player and well prepared he had his Origin teams – I couldn’t imagine a guy that’s never coached NRL being better prepared than Bill.”
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