Cameron Munster concedes he has to get used to walking like a duck as he claims teammate and Dally M Medal favourite Jahrome Hughes deserves the same billing as Nathan Cleary.
Munster was absent for 11 weeks of the Melbourne's campaign with injury and is set to undergo post-season surgery on a hip issue that has plagued him for several months.
The Storm five-eighth, who missed the entirety of Queensland’s State of Origin series defeat with the injury, made his return to NRL action from the interchange bench in a 32-12 win over Parramatta last Friday.
“I’ve got weird legs, unfortunately, I walk like a duck,” Munster said on Wednesday.
“It was inevitable that I was going to need to get them done.
“I can still play with it so I need a little bit of cement, to toughen up and get out there and play some good footy.
“There's no issues with my groin any more, I’ve got a lot of issues with my hips.”
Munster has been named to start in the No. 6 jersey for Saturday’s meeting with St George Illawarra.
The 29-year-old remains unclear if he will shift to the bench to make way for unheralded back-up Tyran Wishart closer to kick-off.
“I’m wearing the No.6 but Craig (Bellamy) keeps his cards close to his chest and hasn’t given me an indication if I’m starting," Munster said.
“The team has been playing good footy without me, I don’t want to ruin that cohesion.”
Munster has marvelled at the Storm’s form in his absence, with Bellamy’s men within touching distance of lifting their first minor premiership since 2021.
Munster said Hughes deserved to win the Dally M Medal and to be viewed as one of the game’s elite playmakers.
“There was a lot of speculation on whether we were obviously a top-four side, let alone being in contention for the premiership,” Munster added.
“We keep proving those critics wrong, whether that's in Sydney or Queensland, and we're playing some good footy, playing confident footy, and that’s down to Jahrome Hughes.
“There’s a lot of word around town that he’s in line for the Dally M and he really deserves it.
“Unfortunately he doesn’t get the accolades around rugby league but he should be up there with Nathan Cleary.”
Meanwhile, the Storm have granted Reimis Smith an immediate release allowing him to take up an opportunity overseas.
Smith, who was a vital cog in the 2021 minor premiership-winning team, played 69 matches over four seasons with Melbourne.
