Cameron Munster says a move to a Sydney club has become a genuine option once he is free to negotiate with rival NRL teams on November 1. The Queensland captain also linked his decision to test the market to uncertainty over who will coach Melbourne Storm after Craig Bellamy.
Munster, 32, is among 11 Kangaroos players who can discuss contracts with other clubs from November 1, a date that falls during the World Cup. He said the attention and pressure of Sydney might have overwhelmed him earlier in his career, but he now feels more mature and better equipped to handle the scrutiny.
Munster said he had asked Melbourne Storm who would succeed Bellamy after the 2027 season, but had not received a clear answer. He dismissed reports that he was unhappy with an offer of about A$750,000 a year as speculation. He said his next move would have to work for his family and give him a chance to step outside his comfort zone.
A return to Queensland is also not a straightforward choice. Munster said the Titans, Broncos, Dolphins and Cowboys already had established playmakers, and he did not want to block a young player's development. Sydney clubs have different roster situations: several have halves contracted for multiple seasons, while South Sydney has no established playmaker beyond 2027.
Munster has also been linked with NRL expansion teams in Papua New Guinea and Perth. He joked that he might end up with the Southern Orcas, a bid for the league's 20th franchise, if no other option emerged. He said he would keep playing while he retained his competitive drive and willingness to put his body on the line.