Control key for Munster
MELBOURNE playmaker Cameron Munster has vowed to deal with the high pressure stakes of Saturday’s NRL preliminary final against Sydney Roosters better than he did in last year’s grand final shocker.
Munster made unwanted history as the first player to be sin-binned twice in a title decider — the second time for kicking Roosters centre Joseph Manu.
With the Storm trailing 18-0 at half-time en route to a gutwrenching 21-6 loss, Munster’s emotions boiled over.
The repentant 25-year-old admitted he had “anger” issues 12 months ago but feels betterplaced to deal with frustrations that occur during a game.
“Not at all, I won’t react the same way at all,” Munster said before the SCG showdown.
“I was probably a bit of, I wouldn’t say an angry man, but I was always angry at stuff and frustrated at things that weren’t going my way. I’ve learnt you can’t control everything, you can only control yourself and your own ability.
“I was more frustrated with the way we were playing and I took my emotions out in the game and you can’t do that, no matter who you are.”
The Queensland Origin star was abused and threatened on social media for the performance, but after working over the past two years with Storm psychologist Jacqui Louder he is now able to shrug off such criticism.
“I made a lot of silly mistakes and you can’t do that against quality sides, and the frustrations come out at times but I’ve moved on from it,” he said. “I know some fans haven’t but that’s fine.
“I just need to worry about myself and my performance for the team and if I can play my best footy and put this team in a good spot then I can walk away with a smile on my face.”
Munster will carry a shoulder/neck injury into the match, which he initially hurt against Gold Coast in Round 23 and forced him out of the last round win over North Queensland.
He took another hit during the Storm’s semi-final win over Parramatta and although it’s still painful, there’s no doubt about the five-eighth turning out for Melbourne’s fifth successive grand final qualifier.
“It’s fine, there’s a lot of stuff there around it but it’s just me being a little sook,” Munster said. “I just get a bit of cement and I’ll be fine.”