https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...e/news-story/052759c60090e62c4f0e85f3b86f603b
Storm face $1 million battle to keep Cameron Munster in Melbourne
PETER BADEL, The Courier-Mail
an hour ago
MELBOURNE must pay $1 million a season to win a bidding war for Cameron Munster and prevent the Queensland Origin star quitting the Storm.
The
Sunday Mail can reveal the Storm face the prospect of adding Munster to the NRL’s millionaire’s club to stave off rival poaching bids in one of the biggest retention battles in Melbourne’s 20-year history.
The looming tug of war for Munster has now grown to eight clubs with the Titans, Cowboys, Parramatta and the Roosters expressing interest in the Maroons ace. It is understood another two Sydney teams have also made overtures for one of the hottest backline talents in the NRL.
Munster is off-contract at the end of next season and his preference is to remain at the Storm, but his long-term commitment to Melbourne must come at the right price.
Ben Hunt’s massive five-year, $6 million deal with the Dragons has changed the financial landscape for NRL stars and Munster believes he is in the same salary stratosphere as his Queensland Origin teammate.
Munster is on about $600,000 next season, but he wants a big pay rise. Melbourne must deliver a seven-figure salary to retain their most important player for 2020 in the post-Cameron Smith era.
Munster is now in the top echelon of NRL players after his outstanding Origin campaign this season in the Queensland No. 6 jumper.
Maroons selector Darren Lockyer says Munster is worth $1 million on the open market, but hopes he stays loyal to Melbourne.
“When a club spends millions on players, they have to be prudent that they are buying the right player because it’s a huge chunk out of the salary cap,” Lockyer said.
“I can understand why Cameron is in high demand, but he needs to weigh up where he can play his best football.
“I believe the best club for him is Melbourne.
“Craig Bellamy (Storm coach) is very good in bringing discipline to a group and the standards he drives has helped Cameron’s form this year, even for Queensland in the Origin arena.
“Cam will have plenty of interest but he needs to be strategic about his next deal.”
Munster intends to test his value on the open market from November 1.
Critically, the Storm have the financial muscle to compete with rivals, given the staggered exits of their Big Three.
Halfback Cooper Cronk joined the Roosters this season, fullback champion Billy Slater is retiring at season’s end and the other member of Melbourne’s Holy Trinity, skipper Smith, is expected to retire next year.
That gives Melbourne the opportunity to make Munster their highest-paid player from 2020.
Premiership-winning former Queensland Origin lock Scott Sattler believes the Storm face a battle to retain the 23-year-old.
“Cam Munster is now a $1 million player,” he said.
“Every club in the game would want him, so Melbourne have a fight on their hands.”
Melbourne CEO David Donaghy is confident Munster will not be lost to the Storm.
“Cameron has been straight with us. We sat down with Frank Ponissi (football operations chief) and Craig (Bellamy) and he looked us in the eye and told us he wants to stay in Melbourne,” Donaghy told Melbourne radio.
