Cameron Munster has been kicked out of Melbourne’s leadership group and must abstain from alcohol for 12 months in tough sanctions imposed by his club.
Munster is one of three Storm players – alongside Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis – fined and suspended for one game by the NRL today for being in a leaked video last week that showed a white substance on a table in the room they were in.
Munster copped a $30,000 fine from the NRL but then his club came down much harder with their own set of penalties for the incident.
The Storm announced Munster has received a $100,000 suspended fine, has been kicked out of the leadership group, and must not drink alcohol for a year, effective immediately.
In addition, Munster will enter a four-week rehabilitation program to deal with alcohol problems and must abide by “additional behavioural conditions” which the club did not specify.
Munster, 27, is known as a rugby league larrikin and has forged a stellar career at the Storm despite breaking the mould of player coach Craig Bellamy famously relishes.
During the 2017 World Cup, Munster was sent home from Kangaroos camp by national coach Mal Meninga following an altercation with Australian teammate Ben Hunt.
He faced the wrath of Bellamy once he returned to his club but survived that faux pas, and over the years since has transformed himself enough to be included in the Melbourne leadership group… until now.
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Media reports since the white powder video surfaced have suggested the Storm are beginning to grow tired of the mercurial five-eighth.
It’s alleged the club was unhappy with Munster openly revealing his desire to move home to Queensland and play for the NRL expansion team in 2023.
He is now one of the Storm’s highest paid players and still has two years to run on a deal said to be worth around $1 million a season.
Munster has endured a tough 2021 personally, recently revealing a miscarriage with his partner, Bianca, and the death of her mother.
Munster and his partner are currently expecting their first child.
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