Cameron Munster Admits Retirement Thoughts During Six-Game Storm Slide
cameron munster has admitted he has thought about hanging up the boots while Melbourne Storm slide through a six-game losing streak. The Maroons skipper said the run has left him questioning whether he can still play rugby league. He also said it is not a place he is used to after most of his career under Craig Bellamy.
Munster and Bellamy
Munster made the admission on his 167 podcast with former Storm teammate Ryan Papenhuyzen this week. He said: "The worst I’ve had in my 13-year career is probably back-to-back losses, I don’t think I’ve ever had six in my life. It’s something I’m not really used to."
He also said: "You always question a lot of things in your mind, whether you still can play the game of rugby league." The doubt went further than form alone. Munster added: "There have been some times in my head thinking 'should I be hanging them up?’ to be completely honest."
Storm attack under strain
The Storm have lost six games, and Munster said he hoped his form would not cost him an Origin spot. He said: "Unfortunately I just haven’t been getting the rewards or the results I’ve been chasing."
His own assessment was blunt. "At the moment my defence hasn’t been great," he said. "And I’m making decisions I wouldn’t usually make." Munster and Jahrome Hughes have struggled to get the Melbourne attack clicking, and Hughes was ruled out of Friday night's trip to face the Dolphins because of concussion.
Bellamy diagnosis adds pressure
The backdrop to Munster’s comments is Bellamy’s health diagnosis. Over recent weeks, the club said Bellamy underwent a series of medical tests and was diagnosed with a form of neurodegenerative disorder, though it added the diagnosis would not affect his ability to coach in the immediate future.
That comes after Munster was badly exposed for one of Tallis Duncan's three tries in the loss to Souths last week. For Melbourne, the story now runs on two fronts: a senior player openly doubting his own future, and a coach dealing with a serious medical diagnosis while the team tries to stop the slide.
