Melbourne’s finals hopes have suffered another major setback, with Cameron Munster officially ruled out of Round 20 and facing up to six weeks on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery.
The Storm will now be forced into a significant halves reshuffle ahead of a crucial clash with the Sydney Roosters, with Tyran Wishart expected to step into the No.6 jersey alongside Jahrome Hughes.
Munster was a late withdrawal before Melbourne’s win over the Titans after experiencing soreness in his knee.
Scans later confirmed a meniscus injury that required surgery, with the club expecting the Queensland star to miss between four and six weeks. The injury leaves Melbourne without one of its most influential players during the run home to the finals.
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The timing couldn’t be worse for Craig Bellamy’s side.
The Storm are already missing several key players through injury and face one of the toughest remaining draws in the competition. Munster’s absence places even more responsibility on Jahrome Hughes to control the attack, while Wishart is set to receive another opportunity in the halves.
According to Fox Sports’ Round 20 Team Tips, Wishart is the obvious replacement, although his promotion is expected to trigger further changes to Melbourne’s interchange rotation.
Despite the setback, Bellamy still has plenty of experience to lean on.
Harry Grant remains one of the game’s premier hookers, while Hughes has shown repeatedly he can shoulder the playmaking load when required. Melbourne will also hope its forward pack can help ease the pressure while Munster recovers.
The injury also raises questions about Melbourne’s finals prospects.
The Storm have not missed the finals since 2010, but with Munster sidelined and a challenging run home against several top-eight opponents, every game becomes increasingly important.
For now, all eyes will be on how Melbourne adapts without its inspirational five-eighth.
If the Storm can stay in the finals race until Munster returns, they’ll receive a significant boost at the business end of the season.
If not, his absence could prove one of the defining moments of their 2026 campaign.
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