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Saturday mornings are when Melbourne Storm star Cameron Munster often thinks about his late father, Steve.
“That’s when the races are on, and dad would always call through with his tips,” he says.
“They were normally s--- tips.
“If he did give me a tip that paid more than $10, he’d ask if I got on, but I’d tell him I was broke from the 50 previous tips he gave me that never won.
“He once tipped me a horse that paid $51 at Doomben. It was before COVID. He loved Flemington. I took him to the Melbourne Cup for the first time last year, and he loved it.”
You can only imagine the tears Munster will shed if he can win Sunday’s NRL grand final against Brisbane, only to look into the Accor Stadium stands knowing his father will not be there.
Steve Munster died of a heart attack in July, days before his son was due to captain Queensland in the Origin decider in Sydney.
The five-eighth was shattered when he received the news from his sister while in Maroons camp. Coach Billy Slater told Munster to forget about footy for a few days to be with his loved ones in Rockhampton.
Billy Slater and Cameron Munster share a moment after winning the Origin series.Credit: Getty Images
Nobody in Queensland was going to hold it against him if he was in no mood to play the final Origin.
But Munster did, the Maroons won, and he was surrounded by cameras at full-time as he was consoled by Slater, a fellow Melbourne and Queensland legend who lost his dad at the start of the year.
“Only Cam would be able to answer how he’s been able to cope,” Slater said this week.
“Sometimes when you have these great personalities, and infectious people everyone wants to be around, they can hide things well – they can be good at hiding things.
“There would be times Cam is sitting around at home, more than likely on a Saturday morning when he usually spoke to his old man about the races, when it sinks in [that he is gone].
“It’s been a pretty taxing year for him. But I don’t know. He’s put together a little bit differently, Cam. He’s a tough human.
“He’s handled some big things this year, and there’s another big one in front of him on Sunday.
“I’m sure his old man will come to the front of his mind this week, and he’ll be thinking how every other grand final he’s played in, his dad was in the stands.
“Steve loved life, loved sports, loved his footy, and loved his family. He’d be pretty chuffed at what his boy is doing.”
As he sat on a bench in the middle of AAMI Park on a sunny Monday, Munster smiled when asked which player Steve loved the most.
“Anyone who smashed me,” said Munster, smiling at that very moment like he could still hear Steve’s words ringing in his ears.
“Whenever I played Manly, he’d always send me photos of [hard-hitting centre] Steve Matai. He used to call Kenny Bromwich ‘Kevin Costner’ because he was my ‘Bodyguard’.
“Even if I played well, I’d come off and dad would say, ‘you tackled OK, but geez you can be a speed hump’.
“I was like, ‘yeah Dad, I appreciate it’.
“He had a great sense of humour. He never took anything too seriously, and loved a joke. That’s what I loved about him.”
Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes said one of his last memories of Steve was when he came down for the club’s ‘parents’ day’ this year. The Storm put on special match day weekends for families so they can get to know each other, especially given the bulk of the squad are not from Victoria.
Munster picked up the player of the match that weekend, and Hughes teased Steve about having to make a speech.
“He had about four beers in his hands, he was quadruple parked, and started to stress when I told him about saying something nice,” Hughes said.
‘You never know how people will deal with grief. To his credit, he’s done a great job.’
Jahrome Hughes on Cameron Munster“Steve was a great man. He was a bloke’s bloke who loved the punt, the beers and getting around the boys. He was always up for a chat with anyone in the squad.
“I’ve never been through something like that. I didn’t know how Munster was feeling.
“For me, it was about letting him know myself and my wife were here for him if he ever needed anything.
“You never know how people will deal with grief. To his credit, he’s done a great job.
It’s been a big year for Storm star Cameron Munster.Credit: Steven Siewert
“I don’t know if I could have done what he’s been able to do, and the way he’s handled himself after something like that.
“It’s such an inspiration for myself to see how he’s handled himself this year.”
Munster said the proper time to grieve would most likely arrive once all his footballing commitments were over, which for him will be after Australia’s Ashes campaign in early November.
“I’ve been on that rollercoaster, I’ve been keeping busy, I have to be here or there,” he said.
“When the season finishes and I don’t have to do anything, and I’ve got time to myself, that’s probably when it might hit home.”
Right now, Munster, Hughes, coach Craig Bellamy and the team have a pretty important game to win against the Brisbane Broncos.
Munster won titles in 2017 and 2020, and was part of the loss to Penrith last year. He was ordered by his mother Debbie to kiss and make up with Panthers back-rower Liam Martin after he said he never liked him at the start of grand final week.
Munster knows the Storm have the squad to beat Brisbane. The fact there are a few new faces in the team who have never experienced a grand final makes it easier to stay motivated.
Cameron Munster heads onto the field.Credit: Getty Images
“Nathan Cleary made a good point about how Penrith had won four titles, but they were always [chasing success] with different players who had never experienced it,” Munster said.
“Knowing there are a few players who will experience it for the first time on Sunday, it keeps it fresh and it keeps everyone else hungry.”
Munster is not feeling the pressure, judging by his mood and the scenes in the sheds after last Friday’s win over Cronulla.
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When Storm chairman and part-owner Matt Tripp walked in to congratulate him, all Munster wanted to do was complain about one of the club’s other part-owners, Tom Carroll, who refused to play ‘double or nothing’ on the back nine at The Metropolitan Golf Club earlier that week. Munster plays off 12.
“Munny didn’t want to discuss beating the Sharks, all he wanted to do was complain about Tom and how he was too weak to ‘press’, or play double or nothing, on the course,” Tripp said.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way he has developed and matured the past few years, but particularly this year.
“There will be nobody happier for him than me if he gets what he deserves this Sunday, which is to play a great game and win a grand final.
“I’ve taken a really keen interest in him and his life. I’ve only played a small role in it, but I’m proud to say he’s not only a Storm person but a great friend. I have a great deal of care for him and his family.
“It’s been a long year for him. He’s one of the most mentally strong people I’ve met. A win on Sunday would be wonderful for his mum, his wife Bianca, their kids, but especially for him.”
All eyes are on Munster. He is fine with that. Steve will tune in from somewhere, with beer in hand, telling his boy he was a speed hump, but certainly proud.
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