Mum's the word: The advice that convinced Munster to stay

Kangaroos five-eighth Cameron Munster has revealed how a conversation with his mum helped convince him to change his mind about joining the Dolphins and extend his stay in Melbourne.

Munster, who announced a four-year deal with the Storm as the Australian team was boarding their World Cup flight, issued an apology upon his arrival in Manchester for not advising Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett of his decision.

The star playmaker said he agonised over his future for months and admitted to giving Bennett “mixed messages” as he had been poised to sign with the Dolphins from 2024.

However, Munster said he didn’t want the contract negotiations to become a distraction at the World Cup and had a late change of heart after speaking with his mum, Deborah, and Melbourne chairman Matt Tripp.

He said he wanted to repay the Storm for signing him as a 19-year-old in 2014 and standing by him after an off-field incident at the end of the 2021 season that resulted in him agreeing to a 12-month alcohol ban.

“If anyone knows me, I am very undecided a lot of the times so one minute I was gone and the next I was staying,” Munster said. “I just kept going back and forward so it was a very stressful moment.

“To be honest I was done, I was gone. But I was lucky enough to speak to Trippy one more time, and I spoke to my mum, and we thought the best thing for myself, and for my family, was to stay in Melbourne.

“She reminded me that I had said when I was going down to Melbourne that I loved it that much there that I wanted to be a one-club player and that was something I had mentioned.

“That was one of the things that got me over the line, obviously my mum telling me that.

“She said to do whatever was the best for the family, but she also said that they were the first club to give me an opportunity, and I wanted to repay the faith to Trippy and the club for what they did for me last year.”

Munster will now remain with the Storm until the end of the 2027 season but he found it hard to turn down the Dolphins, and especially Bennett, who he played under last year for Queensland.

Bennett vented his fury at Munster for not contacting him to advise of his decision before the announcement was made public and the 28-year-old admitted he owed the super coach an apology.

“It is disappointing, I have a really good relationship with Wayne and I don’t know if I have made it any worse, but I can understand his frustrations and know where he is coming from,” Munster said.

“I was 50-50 at times and giving him mixed messages, and mixed emotions. I have always wanted to be coached by Wayne. I am not going to lie; that that was one of the key factors in deciding where I was going to go.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t give him the respect that he deserves, and I will cop that. I had every intention to give him a call but just unfortunately it panned out the way it did with me flying.

“There are no excuses. I should have still given him a call, so I understand where he is coming from. I will definitely give him a call now. I know that is the respectful thing to do.”

With his future now resolved, Munster will focus on the World Cup and helping Australia retain the Paul Barrière Trophy.

After arriving late Friday, the team went immediately to the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance for a recovery session before checking into their hotel but Munster had to cut short a cryotherapy session due to high blood pressure.

“I have probably been stressing the last couple of months with my contract decisions, so I blame it on that,” Munster joked.

“I am very proud to make the decision before the World Cup and now I can go out there and play some footy.

“November 1 was coming around and if I wanted to go on the open market I could have, but I decided to make my future known before the World Cup so I didn’t have it hanging over my head.

“Regardless of what decision I made I was going to make it before the World Cup. I was kind of sick of the headlines about what I was doing so it was good to get it off my chest.”