New lease of life Munster prepares to exit rehab

Melbourne’s decision to send Cameron Munster to a rehabilitation facility for alcohol problems looks to have paid off, with the five-eighth enjoying “a new lease of life”, according to Storm chairman Matt Tripp.

Munster is expected to exit the facility in Queensland this weekend after admitting himself a month ago following the video drama of him in a hotel room with a white substance. Storm teammates Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis were also in the leaked mobile footage and were punished by the NRL and club.

Tripp is one of Munster’s biggest supporters and has put a team in place to help the rep star transition back to the outside world.

“He rang me yesterday, and he sounded terrific,” Tripp told the Herald. “I couldn’t be happier with his progress. He’s really excited about getting stuck into the pre-season with the boys and getting back to Melbourne.

“He’s in a really good headspace - it’s actually the best I’ve heard him. He’ll have some family time, and he’s expecting a baby in December with his partner [Bianca].

“I just think he’s got a new lease of life. It’s helped him no end. We’ve still got a long way to go, don’t get me wrong, in terms of him ticking all the boxes to be right for round two next year.

Cameron Munster is enjoying a new lease of life as he prepares to exit a rehabilitation facility.Credit:Getty, NRL Images

“But the early signs are fantastic. If I was preparing him for a Melbourne Cup, you could say he’s doing really well in the early stages of his prep. They’re finely-tuned athletes, you want them right when the whips are cracking, and that will be March next year, when we want him ready.”

The Storm have engaged a psychologist to make sure Munster is given the best chance of not slipping back to his wild ways.

The Melbourne five-eighth at the Dally M awards.Credit:Getty Images

Munster was filmed partying with teammates Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis after the Storm’s shock exit in the preliminary final to Penrith. The footage showed white powder on a table the trio were sitting at, but they told the NRL Integrity Unit they were too drunk to remember if they took drugs, let alone whether the substance in was actually cocaine.

Munster was fined $30,000 and suspended one game by the NRL, while the Storm doubled down with a suspended $100,000 fine of their own and enforced a 12-month booze ban.

Tripp revealed last month the board came close to sacking Munster and told the Herald at the time: “I know what a good bloke he is. I also know if you take the blinkers off he can stray.

“The board came close to terminating his contract, but the same board are fully united in wanting to help turn his life around and make him a long-term Melbourne Storm player. I know he will repay the faith. I’m confident of that. And so are the board.”

Munster has reportedly become a priority signing for expansion side the Dolphins, but Tripp said it not even been discussed.

“He’s contracted to us, it’s not even a conversation, it hasn’t been one and it won’t be one,” Tripp said.

Meanwhile, Tripp confirmed Nelson Asofa-Solomona was back in Melbourne and would meet with Storm officials next week to discuss his public decision to not be vaccinated against COVID.

“At the end of the day it’s his choice and we’ll support him either way,” Tripp said. “If he doesn’t want to get vaxxed, we’ll work our way through it. He’s contracted to us, we don’t want him going anywhere and he won’t be going anywhere. We’ll work something out.”

One option that was briefly discussed by some clubs and the Rugby League Players’ Association was loaning players, depending on what public health orders were in place in their respective states.

In Asofa-Solomona’s situation, if he was denied training with the Storm because of the Victorian Government’s tough stance, the Storm could broker a short-term deal with a club where the giant prop would not have the same difficulties. Such a move would save Melbourne and Asofa-Solomona having to part ways permanently.

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