Melbourne Storm head coach Craig Bellamy has confirmed the club will do everything it can to keep Cameron Munster, but will not stand in his way if his wish is to leave.
Munster sent shockwaves through the NRL on Saturday, with the revelation he will head to the open market on November 1 to explore his options.
Reports speculated Munster has only been offered around $750,000 per year beyond the end of his current deal that expires at the end of the 2027 campaign.
It would represent a drop in salary of about $300,000 for Munster, who will be looking for one final pay day before he hangs up the boots.
Bellamy, speaking after the Storm's last-minute win over the Cronulla Sharks to close their season on Saturday evening, said the club would try to keep Munster.
“Cameron has done such a great job for our club. He's been there a long time. He came to our club as a 17-year-old and he's always done the right thing by the club,” Bellamy said per Newswire after fulltime.
“He's a wonderful player, a wonderful clubman. If he sees himself better off going to another club, we're not going to argue with that.
“Having said that, we'll do everything we can to keep him, without a doubt. But if he sees that it's better for him, his family, or whatever situation to move on, he'll go with our blessing. But as I said, I can guarantee we'll do all we can to keep him.”
Munster is part of the fabric of the Storm, but his name hasn't been far away from the headlines around contract speculation in recent years.
He was heavily linked to the Dolphins before they entered the competition but re-signed with the Storm, and was also investigating a move to the Perth Bears before the club released Jonah Pezet.
Munster, who has indiciated a finish to his career in Queensland could be on the cards, has already been given permission to tour PNG, and will likely do so at the end of the regular season after postponing it while he was injured some weeks ago.
PNG confirmed at the time they had been given permission to talk to Munster, although made the decision to pause talks until at least November 1 as they determine whether he would be the best fit in a likely halves combination alongside current Wests Tigers star Jarome Luai.
Outside of PNG, Munster will have to wait until November 1, but it's understood the Brisbane Broncos, who have had a dismal year and face uncertainty around their halves heading into 2027, are interested in making a play for his signature.
Munster, who will miss the finals with his Storm teammates for the first time in his career, has had maybe the toughest year of his NRL journey, coming up with 11 try assists in 18 games to go with 5 forced drop outs and 92 metres per contest.
