Cameron Munster
Cameron Munster (born 13 September 1994) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth, fullback or centre for the Melbourne Storm in the NRL[3] and Australia at international level.
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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia | 13 September 1994|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 89 kg (14 st 0 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Five-eighth, Fullback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 11 July 2020 |
Munster has played for Queensland in the State of Origin series and won the 2017 NRL Grand Final with Melbourne.
Early life
Munster was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.[4] He was educated at Emmaus College, Rockhampton.
He played his junior rugby league for the North Knights at five-eighth,[5] before being signed by the Central Queensland Capras in the Queensland Cup. In June 2013, he signed a two-year contract with the Melbourne Storm.[6] Before signing with Melbourne, Central Queensland head coach and former Canterbury player Jason Hetherington had phoned the Canterbury-Bankstown recruitment team recommending that they sign Munster but he was told the club had no interest in signing the player. Hetherington spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald saying "I made a few phone calls and just tried to find an opportunity for him. Obviously my alliance and heart lies with the Bulldogs and I went that direction first, I would have liked for them to have shown a bit more interest to be honest with you, but it's a competitive world out there".[7]
On 21 September 2013, he won the Queensland Cup Rookie of the Year award.[8]
Playing career
![](../I/m/CAMERON_MUNSTER_(13546693835).jpg)
2014
Munster played for the Storm's NYC team in the earlier rounds of 2014[9] before moving on to the Storm's Queensland Cup team, Eastern Suburbs Tigers. On 18 March, he extended his contract with the Storm until the end of 2017.[10] On 3 May, he played for the Queensland Under-20s team against the New South Wales Under-20s team, playing off the interchange bench in the 30-8 loss at Penrith Stadium.[11][12] In Round 12 of the 2014 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Storm against the North Queensland Cowboys.[13]
2015
In round 6 against the Canberra Raiders, Munster returned for the Storm, filling in for the injured Billy Slater at fullback and also scoring his first NRL career try in the 14-10 win at Canberra Stadium.[14] From Round 12 onwards after incumbent fullback Billy Slater was ruled out for the rest of the year due to a shoulder injury, Munster stepped up and filled in the vacant position at ease.[15][16][17] In Round 22 against the Gold Coast Titans, he scored a hat trick in the Storm's 36-14 win at AAMI Park.[18] Munster finished his promising 2015 NRL season with him playing in 19 matches and scoring 7 tries for the Storm.[19]
2016
On 12 January, Munster was selected in the QAS Emerging Origin squad.[20] On 31 January, while in the Emerging Maroons camp, he broke curfew and the QRL announced he would be excluded from its representative programs for the next 12 months.[21] On 1 February, he was named in the Storm's 2016 Auckland Nines squad.[22] Munster started the 2016 season playing at centre in round 1 against the St George Illawarra Dragons in the 18-16 win at AAMI Park.[23] Following Billy Slater's season-ending shoulder injury, Munster took over the fullback role for the rest of the season.[24] On 11 May 2016, Munster extended his contract with the Melbourne Storm to the end of the 2019 season, earning around $2 million within those years.[25] On 2 October 2016, in the Storm's 2016 NRL Grand Final against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Munster played at fullback in the 14-12 defeat.[26] Munster finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in 24 matches and scoring 4 tries for the Storm.
2017
With Billy Slater set to return Fullback and to action from a shoulder injury which ended his 2016 season (after round 1), Munster was expected to spend time playing Five-Eighth following Blake Green's departure to Manly, in the 2017 season. However, with coach Craig Bellamy opted to rest Billy Slater for the opening 2 rounds of the season, Munster filled-in again at Fullback with Ryley Jacks playing Five-Eighth.[27] When fullback Billy Slater made his return from injury (coming off the bench in the 28th minute) in the Storm's Round 3 home game against the Brisbane Broncos, Munster then took over the Five-Eighth role. Following that Round 3 game, he was then ruled out of action with a fractured cheekbone until Round 7.[28] Munster then took back the Five-Eighth role (combining in the team's spine combination with captain Cameron Smith at hooker, Cooper Cronk at Halfback and Billy Slater at Fullback), producing a number of great performances. Munster was part of the Queensland Maroons Origin Squad for game 2 of the 2017 State of Origin Series as being 18th Man.[29] Following a season-ending shoulder injury to Johnathan Thurston, Munster was selected to make his State of Origin debut, being selected at five-eighth with Michael Morgan shifting to the centres in the series deciding Game 3 match.[30][31] On-debut, he produced an outstanding performance combining with his Storm team-mates in QLD's one-club spine combination of Cameron Smith at Hooker, Cooper Cronk at Halfback and Billy Slater at Fullback; to help QLD to a series win in the 22-6 victory over NSW at Suncorp Stadium.[32] On 1 October 2017, in the Storm's 2017 NRL Grand Final against the North Queensland Cowboys, Munster played at five-eighth in the 34-6 victory.[33][34] Munster finished off a great 2017 NRL season with him playing in 21 matches, scoring 1 try and kicking 12 goals for the Storm. On 3 October 2017, Munster was rewarded with selection in the 24-man Kangaroos squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[35][36] On 3 November 2017, Munster made his test debut for Australia against France, where he started at halfback in place for James Maloney who pulled out of the match the night beforehand due to personal reasons and scored 2 tries in the 52-6 win at Canberra Stadium.[37]
2018
Munster played in both the 2018 World Club Challenge and 2018 NRL Grand Final. He was sin-binned twice in one game during Melbourne's Grand Final loss to the Sydney Roosters.
In November 2018, Munster re-signed with Melbourne until the end of 2023.[38]
2019
In the 2019 NRL season, Munster played 24 games as the club finished as runaway minor premiers. Munster played in the club's preliminary final defeat against the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground.[39]
On 7 October 2019, Munster was named in the Australian side for the upcoming Oceania Cup fixtures.
Honours
Individual
Club
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Statistics
NRL
- Statistics are correct to end of 2018 NRL Season. [1]
† | Denotes seasons in which Munster won an NRL Premiership |
Season | Team | Matches | T | G | GK % | F/G | Pts | W | L | D | W-L % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Melbourne | 1 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
2015 | Melbourne | 19 | 7 | - | - | 0 | 28 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 52.63 |
2016 | Melbourne | 24 | 4 | - | - | 0 | 16 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 79.17 |
2017† | Melbourne | 21 | 1 | 12 | 52.17 | 0 | 28 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 90.48 |
2018 | Melbourne | 24 | 4 | 2 | 100.00 | 2 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 66.67 |
Career totals | 89 | 16 | 14 | 56.00 | 2 | 94 | 64 | 25 | 0 | 71.91 |
* = Unfinished season
State of Origin
† | Denotes seasons in which Munster won a State of Origin Series |
Season | Team | Matches | T | G | GK % | F/G | Pts | W | L | D | W-L % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017† | Queensland | 1 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
2018 | Queensland | 3 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.33 |
Career totals | 4 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50.00 |
Australia
† | Denotes years in which Munster won a World Cup Title |
Season | Team | Matches | T | G | GK % | F/G | Pts | W | L | D | W-L % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017† | Australia | 2 | 4 | - | - | 0 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
Career totals | 2 | 4 | - | - | 0 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
References
- "Cameron Munster - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- loverugbyleague
- Badel, Peter. "Cowboys, Eels and Titans chasing Storm's Cameron Munster". The Courier Mail. News Corporation. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- "Queensland Maroons State of Origin 3 selection: Cameron Munster to start, DCE, Hunt battle for utility role". Fox Sports. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- Smart, Nick. "Cameron Munster happy to give fullback role to Billy Slater as he eyes grand final glory with Storm". Herald Sun. News Corporation. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- "CQ's Munster to join NRL after signing Storm contract". Rockhampton Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- "Canterbury Bulldogs missed chance to sign NRL grand final star Cameron Munster". www.smh.com.au.
- "Capras' Cameron Munster caps big year off at awards night". Rockhampton Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- "LeagueUnlimited NYC Teams - 2014 Round 2 » League Unlimited". Leagueunlimited.com. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- "Melbourne Storm Re-Sign Jesse Bromwich Heading Off Interest from Several Other NRL Clubs". Heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- "Queensland name Under-20s Origin team". NRL.com. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- "Queensland Lock Luke Bateman Suffers Homophobic Slur in NSW's U20s State of Origin Victory". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- "Late Mail : Round 12". Melbournestorm.com.au. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- "Gritty Wet Weather Performance from Melbourne Storm Denies Brave Canberra". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- Roy Ward (31 May 2015). "Melbourne Storm bring in Cameron Munster with Billy Slater to miss Sydney Roosters clash". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- "Melbourne Storm Superstar Billy Slater Gives Heir Apparent Cameron Munster Seal of Approval". Heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- "Cameron Munster Following in Billy Slater's Footsteps". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- "Munster Scores Hattrick in Melbourne Storm's 36-14 Win over Gold Coast Titans". Heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- "Cameron Munster still developing, says Billy Slater". Theage.com.au. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- "Maroons name Emerging Origin squad". NRL.com. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- Brad Walter. "Valentine Holmes and Cameron Munster banned from Queensland Maroons in 2016". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- "Storm name youthful Nines squad". NRL.com. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- "An imperfect Storm can prolong era of dominance". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- "NRL 2016: Storm fullback Cameron Munster replaced Billy Slater". Fox Sports. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- "NRL: Melbourne Storm re-sign Cameron Munster, fullback inks new Storm contract". Fox Sports. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- "NRL 2016 grand final: Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks player ratings". Fox Sports. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- "NRL video: Melbourne Storm Cameron Munster broken jaw injury". Fox Sports. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- Woods, Melissa (17 March 2017). "Cameron Munster breaks jaw in Storm NRL win". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- "Cameron Munster Expected to Replace Darius Boyd at Left Centre in Origin III". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- "Will Kevin Walters Play Michael Morgan or Cameron Munster in the Halves". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- "State of Origin: Queensland's Michael Morgan backs Cameron Munster for Maroons No.6 jersey". Wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- "A new Queensland dynasty is born". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- Bungard, Matt (1 October 2017). "NRL grand final 2017: How the Melbourne Storm players rated". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- "Super Storm crowned NRL premiers". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- "Mal: 'Obviously he was clearly upset'". News.com.au. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- "Roos rookie up for surprise new role". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- "Aussie freak enters history books in bloodbath".
- "Melbourne star Cameron Munster re-signs with Storm on lengthy deal". Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- "Roosters 14-6 Storm: NRL preliminary final – as it happened". The Guardian.