Craig Bellamy has become the latest big-name figure to bemoan the farcical nature of the NRL and State of Origin schedules after revealing Cameron Munster won’t play for the Storm on Sunday night. Melbourne will face the Gold Coast Titans in a crucial game for the Storm’s finals hopes.
Bellamy’s side are 11th on 18 points heading into Round 19 – sitting four points adrift of the top eight. The Storm can ill-afford a loss to the 16th-placed Titans if they want to play finals footy.
Craig Bellamy (R) revealed Cameron Munster (L) won’t back up for the Storm after State of Origin 3. Image: Getty
But they’ll face the Gold Coast without five-eighth Munster, who won’t back up after State of Origin 3 on Wednesday night. “Munster is definitely out,” Bellamy said on Saturday.
“We’ll check the other two – Trent (Loiero) and Harry (Grant) – and there are also a couple of others with some minor stuff. We just need to check them and make sure they get through today’s session. If they do then they’ll play. If they don’t then we’ll have to make a couple of changes.”
Cameron Munster will rest after Queensland’s loss in the State of Origin decider.
Bellamy pointed out that his Origin players would need to play three games in just nine days, with the Storm’s Round 20 clash with the Roosters just five days after they face the Titans on Sunday night. “It is tough to have the last game on Sunday and then expect players to back-up five days later,” he said.
“I’m not quite sure if that’s in the best interests of any NRL players and teams. It is what it is and that’s the hand we’ve been dealt.”
The situation is likely to change from 2027 with the NRL considering putting the comp on hold for three weeks while the Origin games are played. But that won’t help the Storm this year as they try and recover from a woeful start to the 2026 season.
Oryn Keeley expected to get minutes against Dolphins
They’ve been boosted by the immediate arrival of Oryn Keeley from the Dolphins, who agreed to release the second-rower to join the Storm early. “We signed him for next year but we were fortunate the Dolphins were willing to let him go for the rest of this year,” Bellamy said.
“He’s only been here a week but he has made a really good impression. I am pretty sure he will add something to the squad.”
Oryn Keeley has made an immediate move from the Dolphins to Storm.