Cameron Munster will explore his options on the NRL open market from 1 November after the Melbourne Storm’s latest extension offer, with his agent saying he sees no reason for the Kangaroos five-eighth to take a pay cut. The Storm have reportedly offered a two-year deal worth about $750,000 a season, well below the reported $1.1 million a year Munster earns now.
Munster’s manager, Justin Caines, told The Courier Mail that he and the Storm star had met late last week to plan the next step. “Cam and I sat down on Friday and Saturday, we talked about what he wants to do and we’ve mapped out a plan heading to November 1,” Caines said, in comments also carried by Fox Sports. “We’ll be exploring his options on the open market.”
“Melbourne have put forward their offer, and after receiving their offer, we informed them we will be exploring our options in November. We will see what is out there for Cameron,” he said.
Why the pay cut is the sticking point
Munster is contracted to the Storm until the end of 2027. Caines pointed to the NRL’s rising salary cap, which reports say is expected to climb to about $15 million per club in 2028, as the reason his client should not accept less.
“We don’t see any reason for Cameron to be taking a pay cut,” Caines said. “With everyone else’s salaries going up, we don’t see why the Australian five-eighth and Queensland captain has to go backwards in pay. Why should Cam look to take a pay cut when everyone else’s salaries are going up?”
He also made it clear he believes Munster has plenty left to give. “Cameron is far from finished. His hunger is still there, and there is no bigger competitor in the game than Cam Munster,” Caines said, according to Zero Tackle.
PNG Chiefs back in the frame
The Storm gave Munster permission to speak with the PNG Chiefs during the season, before he put those talks on hold. Caines said the door is open again. “We would welcome another discussion with PNG,” he said, as reported by Zero Tackle. Fox Sports reported the Chiefs, who join the competition in 2028, are armed with tax-free dollars to offer.
Caines took over Munster’s management after Braith Anasta stepped away from his player agent role to focus on his media career, Zero Tackle reported.
World Cup comes first
Munster’s immediate focus is the Rugby League World Cup. He is one of four halves options in Kevin Walters’ Kangaroos squad, alongside Sam Walker, Mitchell Moses and Tom Dearden, with Nathan Cleary ruled out. Australia open the tournament against New Zealand in Sydney on Thursday 15 October.
Walters has already made one change to that squad, with Penrith forward Lindsay Smith called in after Roosters premiership-winning prop Lindsay Collins was ruled out with a foot injury, Zero Tackle reported.
Players coming off contract at the end of 2027, including Munster, can start negotiating with rival clubs from 1 November.
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