The Gold Coast Bulletin

Maroons ace closes in on Munster deal

- PETER BADEL

CAMERON Munster is set to become the NRL’s next $1 million player after the Queensland Origin ace was last night crowned rugby league’s five-eighth kingpin.

The Storm pivot heads into Sunday night’s grand final against the Roosters brimming with confidence after being named fiveeighth-of-the-year at the Dally M Awards in Sydney last night.

Munster was Melbourne’s best performer in the Dally M Medal count, outpointin­g big-name teammates and past winners Cameron Smith and Billy Slater to finish in the top 10 in seventh spot on 19 points.

The Maroons pivot is offcontrac­t next season and the Storm are keen to begin extension talks after the grand final to stave off $1 million poaching raids from rival NRL clubs.

Munster was magnificen­t in his first full Origin campaign this season and has

played a key role in the Storm’s grand-final charge, snapping the match-winning field goal in their epic 29-28 defeat of Souths in the first week of the finals.

The five-eighth spot was one of the most contentiou­s positions for the Dally M Team of the Year, with Munster withstandi­ng challenges from Gareth Widdop, Cody Walker and Brisbane’s Anthony Milford to emerge victorious.

Queensland coach Kevin Walters believes Munster can be a 10-year Origin player and his Top 10 finish in the Dally M count rubber-stamps him as one of the code’s next superstars. The new team of the year voting criteria threw up some surprises that left the experts with egg on their faces.

Each player was selected according to their overall Dally M points total, which opened the door for a number of unexpected outcomes.

Dally M player of the year Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was named the No.1 fullback in a stacked field ahead of James Tedesco, Valentine Holmes, Slater and overall runner-up Kalyn Ponga.

 ?? Picture: GETTY IMAGES ?? Melbourne star Cameron Munster has been named NRL five-eighth of the year.
Picture: GETTY IMAGES Melbourne star Cameron Munster has been named NRL five-eighth of the year.

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