After the Storm's first-choice spine took to the field together for the first time since July 17, 2022, Melbourne are hoping for an extended run with their four star playmakers fit and firing together.
With all four taking to the field against Brisbane following Cameron Munster's return from a "baffling" groin injury, Munster, alongside Harry Grant, Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen played their part in the quartet to perfection as Melbourne snuck home in a thriller against the Broncos.
“It’s exciting,” Munster told NRL.com after he played in the Storm’s thrilling 34-32 win at AAMI Park.
“I wouldn’t say it fits like a shoe, or fits like a glove at the moment. We’re probably a size 10, and we’re putting on a size 8 shoe – so it’s a little bit tight there!
“In saying that, we’re moving and building. We’re not going to play a grand final in Round 4 or 5. We want to keep building at the start of the year.”
Match: Storm v Broncos
Round 5 -
home Team
Storm
7th Position
away Team
Broncos
10th Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
The five-eighth had been struggling with a groin injury that his coach Craig Bellamy admitted earlier in the week had left his medical staff “baffled”.
In good signs, the Maroons star pulled up well after the game and was hopeful of continuing his comeback without a hitch next week.
“It’s pretty much a trial for me today, looking at it,” Munster said. “I haven’t really had any footy in my legs, let alone in the body.
“I’m building and I’m going to try to do everything I can in the next couple of weeks.”
Munster goes close
Bellamy was impressed by his performance in the post-match press conference.
“I thought he was good actually, I thought he was real good. I’ll give him a B+; actually, I’ll give him an A,” Bellamy laughed.
“It’s good to have him back and we like to think now that he’s going to get better with a bit more match fitness, a bit more training.
“He played outside Shawn [Blore] tonight, and he hasn’t played with him – he hasn’t trained much with him. So you’d like to think that combination is going to get even better.”
After the game, the players got together to reflect on their successful navigation of a tough start to the season, defeating all three of last season’s fellow top four teams, and only falling narrowly to the Knights.
Munster reflected in that moment on the depth in the squad, and how they had performed in the face of key absences.
“A lot of young blokes come through, we debuted a lot of kids that probably weren’t expecting to play, let alone playing more than a couple of games this year,” he said.
“I think Jonah Pezet this year has been outstanding for us. Shawn Blore, Joe Chan… it just shows how much depth we’ve got in our side at the moment. A lot of blokes are working hard for each other and working hard at training."
Eliesa Katoa 2nd Try
Ultimately, while the 29-year-old was thrilled to make his return, he – nor his teammates – will get ahead of themselves, even as a future with a full-strength spine lays ahead of them.
“It’s good to see where we’re at a little bit, but we’ve got a lot of improvement in us,” Munster said.
“It’s good to see we’ve given ourselves a good chance to get in the top four.
"We’re excited, but at the same time we know we can do better.”
