Cameron Munster has pledged to play for the Storm until the end of the 2023 season amid claims by Wayne Bennett that the Dolphins were confident of signing him.
The Storm took the unusual step of convening an unscheduled press conference on Saturday where Munster reaffirmed its commitment to the club and closed any suggestions that it would request an early release to join Bennett at Redcliff.
It is once again for the expansion club that he had kept hoping to secure Munster for his inaugural season.
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“Wayne is Wayne. He’s probably just trying to stir the pot. But it has nothing to do with me,” Munster told reporters.
“There is some speculation, but never, neither I nor my management, have asked for a release from next year.
“I will contact the club until 2023 when my contract ends and I will not get lost asking for release.
“I’m committed to the club and I want to see my contract and I don’t want to be one of those people who say I want to leave.”
Munster, however, did not commit when asked if he was seen in the storm beyond 2024.
“If it happens, it happens,” he said.
“I haven’t really talked to my partner Bianca or my manager to go any further.
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“My main goal is to win a top spot with the Storm this year and next.”
The statement comes when Storm’s bosses filed another complaint about Bennett of Munster’s quest to become the man in the Dolphins’ tent.
Melbourne powerbrokers were said to be furious in April after reports surfaced claiming the Dolphins were willing to buy Munster’s $ 1.2 million contract for 2023.
Now, according to The Daily Telegraph, Storm CEO Justin Rodski has gone to the NRL regarding the Dolphins ’superintendent SEN appearance.
Bennett suggested the Maroons game creator could be tempted to move north for the 2023 season, although he has a contract until the end of 2024 and can negotiate with rivals from Nov. 1.
“We talked to the NRL and asked the question about the comments,” Rodski said.
“Cameron is hired with Storm in 2023 and we don’t release him, nor have we given permission to talk to other clubs.
“While we are grateful that there is ongoing speculation about his future from 2024 and beyond, we have another club that makes reference to our player when he is hired.
“We think it should be examined by the NRL.”
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Rival clubs are free to talk to Munster, but according to NRL rules they cannot terminate a contract until the player is in the final year of their current contract.
After the storm’s shock defeat to Manly, Bennett appeared on SEN on Friday morning and his comments about Munster drove the storm into contact with NRL powerbrokers.
“It’s part of the long-term vision, absolutely it is,” Bennett said.
“If we don’t get it in 2023, which we think we will get, surely 2024 is on the table for us and we hope it will be on the table for him.
“We have been very deliberate, we just haven’t wasted our money with guys we don’t think are right for our club.
“We have been patient and this is where he is and will stay here. We still have a good amount of money on the salary cap to buy quality players. “
As it stands, the Storms are suspended from their contract with Munster following the resignation of Harry Grant, Jahrome Hughes and Xavier Coates.
Munster were said to have been offered an extension on a significantly reduced price deal, but are said to want to stay in Melbourne and play 200 games with the club.
Coach Craig Bellamy expressed his desire for Munster to stay at the Storm, saying: “If we can keep him long-term, we will.” Whatever decision he makes, when he makes that decision, he will be here next year. “