Cameron Munster's stunning $1.4 million sacrifice in bid to end Penrith Panthers dynasty

Just two years ago Melbourne Storm star Cameron Munster was on the verge of signing an eye-watering $6 million NRL record contract with the Dolphins. But after the crafty five-eighth watched the Panthers dominate the Eels in the 2022 grand final to go back-to-back he changed his mind.

The 30-year-old decided it was more important for him to stay at the Storm and try and build a new dynasty in Melbourne after the exits of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk. And now Munster is ready to make his $1.4 million sacrifice all worth it by winning another premiership at Melbourne.

He will enter this Sunday's grand final against the Panthers as one of the Storm's most crucial players, after a season of fighting through groin pain to star in the No.6 jersey. But things could have looked very different for the 30-year-old if not for an 11th-hour change of heart in 2022.

That season Munster was in regular communications with Bennett who wanted him to become the face of the game's newest franchise and tabled an NRL record four-year contract worth $1.5 million-a-season for Munster to head north. The five-eighth told Bennett he was keen to join him at the Dolphins, only for the 2022 grand final to change his mind.

In the final, the Panthers were at their rampaging best, surging to a comfortable 28-12 victory to successfully defend the 2021 premiership. And after watching Penrith start its own historic NRL run, Munster decided to backflip on joining the Dolphins to instead try and create something great again in Melbourne.

The Queensland star called Craig Bellamy the very next day to inform him he no longer intended to leave for the Dolphins, and was re-signed with the Storm within a week on a four-year deal worth close to $4.6 million. "I just saw the way Penrith go about their business," Munster told AAP.

"They are one of the best teams this competition has had for a long time. To be able to get in that position again, or get that opportunity again, I thought it was the right decision to stay. Money isn't everything."

Munster said a large reason he had a change of heart centred on a desire to have another crack at the Panthers and the premiership after Melbourne were beaten by Penrith in the 2021 preliminary final. "Looking back on it, 2021 we had a good season and we fell down at the last hurdle," Munster said.

"That was something that stuck in my mind. That was a competition that was anyone's. In 2022 or 2023, Penrith were the best side and that's the reason they won three in a row. They love the big moments. I just wanted to get back there and try and play the best. And they're one of the best teams the comp has seen."

Cameron Munster eager to win grand final without 'the big three'

Another motivator for Munster was his desire to help lead Melbourne to a premiership post 'the big three' of Smith, Slater and Cronk. This Sunday will mark the Storm's 11th grand final in their 27-season history, but their first since the exit of the big three.

Munster played in Cronk's last grand final at Melbourne in 2017, Slater's last in 2018 and Smith's in 2020. And since then they haven't managed to make the big dance, until now.

In 2024, in the place of the great Slater, Smith and Cronk are Ryan Papenhuyzen, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant - who like Munster have made no secret of their desire to lead Melbourne into the next era. And Munster hopes this weekend can mark the start of a dominant run for the Storm.

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"It's always in the back of your head (to win one after the big three). But that can't be my sole driving factor to win a comp," Munster said. "We have a good young group of boys and we want to create memories together.

"We've got a great spine, I'm not going to sugar-coat that, but we have some great players around the spine as well. They don't get spoken about a lot. It's crazy to think we're back in a grand final and giving ourselves another chance to win it. You don't get these opportunities a lot."

with AAP