Melbourne Storm star Cameron Munster has revealed just how close he came to making a switch to Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins for the 2023 season.
It was long-believed Munster would be the superstar signing the Dolphins were chasing, before sensationally turning his back on the deal and re-signing with the Storm.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Munster revealed he was preparing to tell teammates he was leaving before a late pitch from Storm bosses changed his mind.
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“[I was] very, very close … I was ready to tell some of the boys I was leaving,” he said.
“I made the decision [to leave] with my manager [Braith Anasta], and then had another chat with [Storm chairman Matt Tripp] and the board and some coaches, and it was in my best interest [to stay].
“To be completely honest, the club has given me so much, they could have easily shown me the door.
“It wasn’t about the money at all; money comes and goes. This is what I was really looking for, to play until I’m 33 at such a great club as the Storm.
“The crazy part is I’m not a stressful guy, I’m a laid-back person where nothing fazes me, but that was the most stressful time of my life.
“I didn’t want to leave the club, and I’m not going to now, but at one stage we had our foot out the door.”
The Dolphins did however succeed in signing 2022 Storm skipper Jesse Bromwich and his brother Kenny, as well as backrower Felise Kaufusi.
With Melbourne in need of a new skipper, and with Munster now one of the senior players in the squad, he said he “would love to be captain”.
“There’s no doubt about it. Whether that’s now, in a year’s time or whenever that is. At this current stage, I’m just happy to be doing what I’m doing.”
Munster admitted being one of the senior members of the team was regardless a “scary” prospect, but believed his game would be “elevated” by the potential added responsibility.
“A lot of leadership and experience has left the club, and I’m probably the most senior player at the club. That’s scary to think.
“There’s a lot of speculation and question marks over whether I can lead the team. I’m getting better and improving, but there’s still a long way to go in that leadership mindset.
“On field I can be a leader if I fix up a couple of things. In saying that, I can talk to the boys a little bit better with the way I had things off field, guide them in the right direction and not make the same mistakes I made. I can lead them in that sense.”
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