Munster: Fit and ready to play the game of his life
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Cameron Munster has set his sights on the double of a premiership and Clive Churchill Medal and says criticism of his 2018 grand final performance by "keyboard warriors" doesn’t faze him.
The Storm five-eighth is fit and ready to play the game of his life against the Panthers at ANZ Stadium after tasting grand final glory in 2017.
"Winning one was the biggest moment for me. The next thing I'd really like to do is play well this Sunday and show everyone I can play well on the big stage again," Munster said.
"I wouldn't mind having the Clivey on my shoulders. I'm not being selfish. I want to play the best for my team.
"It's a great moment for [Clive Churchill Medal winners] and they can relive that for the next 30 years.
Match: Panthers v Storm
Grand Final -
home Team
Panthers
1st Position
away Team
Storm
2nd Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
"It would be nice to have it but it would be great to just win the grand final, not for me but for everyone in Melbourne and for Cameron Smith if he decides to hang the boots up. What a great way to send out a champion."
Munster became the first player in premiership history to be sin-binned twice in a grand final in 2018 against the Roosters.
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He has matured as a player and a person.
"It is what it is. A lot of keyboard warriors and a lot of people have been trying to bring up that moment for ages, but it doesn't faze me too much," he said.
"It wasn't a great moment for myself or my family but I have moved on. Everyone makes mistakes.
"The only way I can make amends for what happened in 2018 is to go out and try to play the best footy I can, prove to everyone that I can play on the big stage."
Munster has set himself an early goal against Penrith.
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"Probably just get in the game a lot earlier, run the ball more and be aggressive with the ball," he said.
"When I do run the ball hard and aggressive I'm very hard to handle. Knowing when I do run the ball, things happen for me. It's just getting my hands on the ball and just controlling the game."
Munster was part of one of the great Storm title-winning teams in 2017 which included Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater.
The 2020 Storm will lose key men to other clubs and codes next year and Munster wants to send them out in a fitting way.
"That is something we have spoken about, we are losing Suli [Vunivalu], we are losing Tino [Fa'asuamaleaui], we might even lose Smithy as well," he said.
"We are not entirely sure what is happening with Smithy but we want to make memories with those guys who have been at the club so long."
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Craig Bellamy will coach the Storm in a grand final for the ninth time, much to Munster's amazement.
"He's up there with Wayne Bennett. I know he hasn't been in the game as long as Wayne but he's got that aura about him similar to Wayne," Munster said.
"What he has brought to the team off the field in the bubble is probably more respected around the group, just the way he has brought everyone together, especially our renegades, making everyone feel part of the team.
"The reason why we are playing the grand final is our renegades, our reserves players, they make us play a game at training and provide competition for positions and make everyone accountable. That's the reason why we are so driven and so successful."
Then there were two
