A lost opportunity to win the 2021 premiership still burns Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster and is driving his quest to make amends in this year’s NRL finals series.
Ahead of the Storm hosting a qualifying final against Cronulla on Saturday night, Munster opened up about his end-of-season disappointments and hopes.
In 2021 the Storm finished minor premiers in a season when they won 19 games in a row, equalling the all-time premiership record achieved by the champion 1975 Eastern Suburbs side.
The defending premiers were marching towards back-to-back titles when they played poorly in a 10-6 loss to Penrith in the preliminary final. Instead of the Storm going on a title run it was the Panthers who won three premierships in a row.
“In 2022 and 2023 Penrith were the best side all year but in 2021 it was anyone's competition. I think that was the most hurtful thing,” Munster said.
“Anyone could have won it and I think that's what burns me, burns Bellyache (coach Craig Bellamy) and burns half the squad.
"That was probably a year gone begging for us. Of course we'd like to make amends. You can’t dwell on the past but hopefully we can learn from it.”
One of the reasons Munster knocked back the Dolphins and extended at the Storm in late 2022 was because he watched the Panthers win the grand final that year and had feelings of envy.
He realised getting back to another grand final would more likely happen at Melbourne for him and not elsewhere.
Munster has also learned that making grand finals isn’t a given. As a youngster it was just what the Storm did. To win a title as a senior leader in the team would please Munster no end.
“It would be massive,” he said.
“I've been lucky enough to be in three grand finals in a row - 2016, 2017 and 2018 - and I thought it comes every year.
“It doesn't happen. I've realised that in the last four years. It takes a lot of hard work and a depth squad to be able to give yourself a chance in grand finals.
“I feel like we've got the squad to do it this year. It’s just a matter if we want it more.”
The 29-year-old won the 2017 and 2020 titles with the Storm.
In 2017 ‘The Big Three’ of Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith were at the forefront. In 2020 Smith played his last game in the decider. Melbourne have not won the ultimate prize in Munster's career without one of them.
“I've been lucky enough to win a couple with the Big Three and it’s driving me to be able to win one without them and prove that I was a premiership player without them,” he said.
"Of course, you always want to win more comps. I'm probably pretty greedy when it comes to that stuff. It would just be good to win a premiership with this group.
"It takes the whole team effort and I think last year we were probably lacking a little bit of experience and mongrel. We've got that this year.
"Our boys are a bit more experienced and there are some younger boys playing some good footy."
