Having gambled and lost on his fitness earlier this year, Melbourne star Cameron Munster admits he’s wary about making any calls on his availability for next week’s NRL finals clash with Manly.
The Storm five-eighth is recuperating after a cut on his left knee became infected and needed a surgical clean-out last week.
It means Munster will have to spend the next few days sidelined allowing the wound to heal.
While it’s unlikely to rule him out of the qualifying final against the Sea Eagles on Friday, Munster won’t be taking any unnecessary risks after rolling the dice on a foot injury before Origin I earlier this year.
Munster played for Queensland against NSW in the 50-6 defeat in Townsville, later admitting he’d had his “pants pulled down” and wasn’t physically ready for that match.
It’s a factor that is playing on his mind.
“It’s a tough question … if I don’t play on Friday, well who knows where the situation goes? Anything can happen in finals footy,” Munster told AAP.
“You can be the best team for 26 rounds and not play the best footy for two weeks and be out in straight sets.
“It’s a tough situation I’m in. Of course I would love to be out there but putting the ego aside at the end of the day.
“Fingers crossed I can get myself right. It’s not ligaments or anything like that’s it just the skin and the tissue’s trying to heal.”
While a key part of the Storm’s hopes of securing back-to-back premierships, if Munster is unavailable it’s not a disaster for Craig Bellamy’s team.
The playmaker didn’t feature in last Friday’s 28-16 win over Cronulla which secured Melbourne the minor premiership, with Nicho Hynes filling in manfully in the No.6 jersey.
Hooker Harry Grant, who will be making the first finals appearance of his career next week, was confident the Storm can manage if Munster needs extra time to recover.
“A bit of drama, he might just want a little bit of attention,” Grant told AAP of his teammate.
“We’re pretty lucky with Munster and getting on to that pretty early.
“It could’ve went south pretty quickly but luckily we got onto it pretty early and hopefully he’s fit and ready to go Friday night.
“He’ll make the right call and the medical staff will direct him in the right way.
“We’ll react to whatever happens.
“If we get him it’s a bonus but if we don’t we’ll have someone here to step in and fill the role.
“Nicho Hynes did a great job there on the weekend.”
FINALS SCHEDULE FOR WEEK ONE
FRIDAY
Melbourne v Manly, Sunshine Coast Stadium
SATURDAY
Penrith v South Sydney, Queensland Country Bank Stadium (Townsville)
Sydney Roosters v Cronulla/Gold Coast, Queensland Country Bank Stadium (Townsville)
SUNDAY
Parramatta v Newcastle, Browne Park (Rockhampton)
AAP
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