Show Storm the Munny
SUPER coach Wayne Bennett is prepared to buy out Cameron Munster’s entire $1.2 million Melbourne contract in an extraordinary bid to bring the Queensland Origin star to the Dolphins next season.
News Corp can reveal Bennett has personally contacted Munster to spruik his vision for the Dolphins and his plan to make the Maroons star the blue-chip player of the NRL’s new expansion team.
The battle for Munster’s signature is hotting up, with Melbourne chairman Matt
Tripp on Sunday hitting back at the Dolphins, insisting the Storm will not grant the playmaker an early release to return to Queensland in 2023.
Munster is off-contract at the end of next season, meaning he is off-limits to the Dolphins until 2024, and the final year of his Melbourne contract is worth $1.2m.
His 2023 salary will make Munster the highest-paid player in the code alongside Queensland Origin halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans, who is on $1.25m at Manly.
But Bennett is going down swinging.
Mindful of Melbourne’s hardline stance, and the Dolphins’ increasingly desperate need to land a marquee signing to be the face of their organisation, Bennett is ready to up the ante financially to expedite Munster’s acquisition.
The Dolphins are armed with a four-year, $1m-a-season deal for Munster, but with Tripp making it clear a Storm subsidy is out of the question, Bennett will consider increasing their offer to $1.2m for 2023.
That effectively represents a total buyout of Munster’s 2023 Storm contract. However, that may still not be palatable for Melbourne, who are putting principle ahead of dollars with Munster and are renowned for their hard-nosed attitude of making players honour contracts they sign.
Munster’s manager Braith Anasta says the two-time premiership winner is happy to see out his Storm deal, even if Bennett is doing everything possible to reunite with his former Origin pivot next season.
“To be honest, I find it hard to see Cameron at the Dolphins in 2023,” Anasta said.
“Melbourne have Munster under contract for next year and there is not a shadow of doubt in my mind that they will uphold their part of the deal. If he went anywhere, it would have to be for 2024.
“The Dolphins won’t be the only option for Cameron, but the reason they have been so highlighted is because of their current situation and the fact they need star players as a new franchise, so it’s a unique situation. Cam has a great relationship with Wayne from their time in the Origin team, but he also loves Melbourne and they are his priority at the moment.”
Should the Dolphins miss out on Munster for 2023, they face going into their debut season without a superstar on their books, especially after Kalyn Ponga inked a new deal with the Knights last week.
Munster will pocket an extra $2.5m if he quits Melbourne to join the Dolphins.