Melbourne Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster makes another major tease about his playing future and what his plans are when he calls his career to an end.
Currently, Munster is off-contract after the 2027 season and will play in the club's final game of the season against the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday night.
For the first time in his career, he will miss the finals, which is also the club's first time since 2010 not making the top eight.
Munster revealed to Code Sports what his plans are for the time he has off, as he won't be playing in September after this Saturday night.
“Golf, having a hospitality business and just understanding the way the world works a little bit,” Munster shared.
For someone who doesn't like to think about the game more than he already does, Munster reflected on the idea of becoming a "rookie" in the world when he is done playing rugby league.
“I've been so footy-minded and so selfish in my own ways over the last 13 years,” he said.
“Eventually footy goes, you have to go back and be a rookie when it comes to other things that you want to do, understand how the world works because I'm going to be going back into the real world eventually.
“It's exciting, but it's also daunting.”
Earlier this year, Munster opened his own pub on Caxton Street in Brisbane, combining sport, hospitality and fun, which could be the focus post-footy.
The 31-year-old revealed why he was eager to open up his own pub and work in hospitality.
“It was just more of an opportunity to grow, I've always wanted to jump in the hospitality business,” Munster explained.
“To build up a pub in Caxton Street was a no-brainer, Olympics is on in 2032, that was probably a big driver for us,” he said.
“Music venues, the Brisbane Broncos, the Redcliffe Dolphins - or the Brisbane Dolphins, you like to call them - There's a lot of games, a lot of sports around that arena.
“It was pretty much a no-brainer for myself to jump in there.
“I think I'm very happy that I made that decision.
“It's keeping me very busy. I do like a beer and like a good time at times, but I've been making sure that I can't forget what the reason was to make that pub.
“And it was to give fans in Queensland a bit more of an opportunity to get to the pub.”
With his business, it would make sense for Munster to return to Queensland on a full-time basis.
In the NRL space, it would be shocking considering his entire career has been spent in Melbourne.
AFL's Scott Pendlebury announced he would head to the Gold Coast after spending 21 seasons with the Collingwood Magpies.
“Who knows, I could do a Scott Pendlebury,” Munster said.
“I don't know if I'll be playing the high-quality footy that he's playing, but I could definitely squeeze the lemon if I have to.
“There's a big difference between me and Scott Pendlebury, he's a professional athlete, I'm a sort-of footballer.
“He's (Pendlebury) got his head screwed on.
“There's a no-brainer with him when it comes to his body.
“He's obviously looked after it very well, and you don't get 430 games out of your body if you're not very smart with the way you go about it.
“It's crazy to say, we always talk about LeBron James, and Kevin Smith is probably an exception for our game as well, but he's probably an exception for AFL.
“He's probably still the best top 15 player at 36, it's a pretty good resume to have for himself and there's no excuses on why he gets so much over the body.”
Previously linked to the Chiefs and able to negotiate with rivals from November 1, Munster also admits he is one of many skeptical about the talent pool being stretched with the Perth Bears joining the competition next season, the Chiefs in 2028 before the 20th team enters in 2029.
“It's exciting for the game but I've been a bit nervous about it, you know, you're stretching the talent pool, you've got to find a hundred new players,” he said.
After back-to-back grand final losses in 2024 and 2025, Munster reflects on what he's taken away from the club's struggles this season and the impact of winning on his mentality.
“Sometimes when you've been around finals for a long time, you don't think you need to improve on certain things and you've got to evolve,” Munster said.
“That's something that I need to get better with as the year goes on.
“The game's gotten a little bit faster and I wouldn't say I'm getting any older in the body, but there's some things that I need to improve on, get smarter between the ears playing footy.
“A lot of teams do a lot of video on you and understand the way you play and your strengths and your weaknesses. Maybe I need to sharpen up a little bit more.
“Sometimes there's lessons that you need a little earlier in your career, but I've had them at the back end of my career.”
Munster's off-season will be more intriguing as he has a new agent, Justin Caines, after Braith Anasta stepped down as a player-manager to focus on his media role, due to the NRL's new media crackdown.
Melbourne have made major recruitment decisions, signing Jamayne Isaako from the Dolphins, Bronson Xerri from the Bulldogs, and a mid-season release seeing Oryn Keeley join this season from the Dolphins.
The Storm confirmed Joe Chan will head to the North Queensland Cowboys next season.
Tyran Wishart and Nick Meaney will head to the Perth Bears, while the Storm have lost Tui Kamikamica to medical retirement.
