Due to a persistent groin injury, Cameron Munster doesn’t seem likely to play in Melbourne’s NRL round one matchup against the defending premiers, Penrith.
Without him, the Friday night match at AAMI Park would have been a contest between two of the greatest halves of the season, with Nathan Cleary leading the Panthers as they start their chase for a fourth consecutive championship.
After re-injuring his groin when he slipped in the shower during the Storm’s pre-season game against Newcastle in Fiji last month, Munster has been unable to properly train.
“It wasn’t ideal because I slipped in the shower while getting ready for the Fiji game,” Munster said to reporters on Monday.
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“I’m trying everything to get better, but it’s a frustrating injury.
“I made an effort to work out today, but in order to play on Friday, I need to be 80–100%.”
“If I’m not right by Tuesday or Wednesday I will pull the pin.”
Prior to the first round last year, Munster struggled with osteitis pubis, which he said had an impact on his “zip”.
Although he was able to resolve that issue, he believed there was a connection to the current situation.
“I finally shook that, but something’s come back and I had scans and there’s a bit of inflammation in the groin,” Munster explained.
“I’m going to try and figure out what I can do around the body to try and strengthen everything up, like the core and glutes.”
As the Storm aim to win their 22nd consecutive round-one match under head coach Craig Bellamy, Jonah Pezet will wear the No. 6 shirt in the event that Munster is ruled out.
Harry Grant, the captain of New Melbourne, stated that Pezet would be prepared because he had been practicing in Munster’s absence.
“Pez (Pezet), who made his NRL debut last year and played seven games, has done a really good job of being patient and he could potentially be a starting player at a number of other clubs, but he committed to our club and wants to keep learning and keep developing his game,” Grant said of the 21-year-old.
“If he does get his opportunity I’m sure he will be ready to take it.”
Penrith crushed the Storm 38–4 in the previous year’s preliminary final, and the Panthers went on to win an NRL premiership for the third time in a row.
Grant claimed that his side was ready for a difficult round one task.
“They’ve been at the top of the table for a number of years and that’s because they’re consistent at what they do and they’re ruthless with it,” he stated.
“Time will tell, but we can draw a lot of confidence from our preseason work,” the player said.
“We have to put that into an 80-minute performance, and there’s no better test than the three-time premiers.”
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