You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content

Craig Bellamy is giving the window of his AAMI Park coach's box a quick, violent spray and wipe. No Windex needed.

Cameron Munster is on the AAMI Park sideline, about to return from a late sin-binning against Parramatta with the game already won.

He's had his say into the walkie-talkie held by club volunteer David Roach, but can't hear Bellamy's four-letter responses.

Like the rest of the rugby league world though, Munster is watching his coach go nuclear, a born window cleaner before the 13-man game came calling.

Munster is nonplussed when Bellamy stops bellyaching, Roach can't help but smirk.

But like the rest of the rugby league world, Munster loves every second of it.

"He's an angry man when it comes to footy, he's very passionate, and I'm really passionate about my rugby league and always watch footy," Munster grins.

"I never watch myself play on TV after games. I always watch other games played.

"We always talk about footy, but at the same time I give him a lot of stick about what he wears, what he puts in his hair and what he says. Sometimes he says the wrong thing and I'll give it to him.

Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster.
Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster. ©Grant Trouville/NRL Photos

"I guess we admire each other for our hard work. He works really hard with his coaching staff and always wants to be the best at what he does.

"He doesn't want to forget anything during the week and if he does he feels like he's let us down. 

"I guess that's what I love about him".

The feeling is mutual. Much like Allan Langer and Wayne Bennett at Brisbane, Munster takes the piss out of Bellamy when others would be pissing themselves.

He gets away with a bit more than most because he gives Bellamy something a bit different.

The Storm coach rates Munster one of the most naturally gifted footballers he's ever come across.

Put him in the gym and Munster survives, but hardly thrives among the game's modern day monsters.

Put him through fitness and cardio drills and Munster does just that, puts himself through them.

Then put a Steeden in his hands and Melbourne start building their latest empire around him.

Which takes us back to AAMI Park and Bellamy's tastefully redecorated window pane.

Munster trots back out into the fray and within 60 seconds he is 30 metres out, chipping into the corner on the last.

The fact Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne and Corey Norman had recently been shuffled into their old wing and fullback positions had been spoken about in Melbourne's pre-game meetings.

Bellamy may have even mentioned it among his flurry of four-letter adjectives.

Munster's kick rears like a Shane Warne leg break, Hayne plays the part of Mike Gatting to a tee, Curtis Scott scores and the Storm nail a 20-4 win to the door.

En route to his third grand final in as many seasons, Munster's biggest footballing shift has been in those pre-game meetings.

For the first time, the 24-year-old has taken an active role in dissecting opposition defences, before going out and duly dismembering them.

"I think that's something I've done differently this year," Munster says.

"Previous years I didn't worry about it, I've just rocked up to training, put the boots on and trained.

"Lately I've realised the leadership boys are starting to go. Coops (Cronk) left last year, we've got Timmy (Glasby) leaving at the end of the year, Billy (Slater) leaving at the end of the year, Smithy still under a contract cloud.

"It's a tough one but I guess I need to mature and grow up a bit more with the footy side of things. It's just the baby steps this year I guess".

The adult strides have also come off the paddock.

Bellamy once more was the catalyst, hauling him back to Melbourne when Munster had a drunken scuffle with Kangaroos teammate Ben Hunt during the World Cup.

The message was brutally honest. But the delivery wasn't.

And Munster, as big a fan of any of Bellamy's spittle-laden sprays, got the message loud and clear.

"I felt everything happened quickly last year, Origin debut, Australia debut, grand final, it all happened in a big year and I got too far ahead of myself," Munster concedes.

"I got a bit carried away. A lot of players and young men do that. That's football and life. Everyone makes mistakes. It's something I've learned.

"I didn't have a problem with alcohol. I used it as an outlet. I didn't mind the party life and wanted to enjoy myself a bit more.

"I haven't had a beer for seven weeks. When I had that incident [with Hunt] I was probably about 14 weeks off it.

"I can definitely stay off it. I decided it was time to stay off it for a bit and keep my nose out of mischief.

"Otherwise I'd end up one of those players who went out the back door and worried about playing country footy."

That one remains Bellamy's best dressing down.

In front of a thousand-odd fans and the entire Storm playing squad Bellamy gave Munster both barrels when he'd tanked a pre-season trial against the Raiders, having been out on the town in Griffith the previous night.

Bellamy asked Munster: 'what would you rather do? Dig holes or play football for us?'

So began a pretty rosy old relationship with one of the most natural footballers Bellamy has seen. Both have loved most every bit of it. With a spray or two along the way.

Acknowledgement of Country

Queensland Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

Platinum Partners

View All Partners