Cameron Smith expects Cameron Munster to leave Melbourne Storm at the end of next season

Cameron Smith believes Cameron Munster will leave Melbourne in 2024, while the five-eight’s agent Braith Anasta admitted his client was ‘very confused’ about his future but that a decision was imminent. 

The future of the Kangaroos and Queensland star has been subject of speculations throughout the season, with the Dolphins, Wests Tigers, Canterbury and the Titans all linked to the playmaker.

Munster is under contract with the Storm until the end of next season, but he will be free to negotiate with other clubs for 2024 from November 1 if Melbourne fail to sign him to a new deal.

Smith, who won three Grand Finals with the Storm, believes his former teammate would have already agreed a new deal with the club if he intended to remain at AAMI Park.

‘If I’m brutally honest, if he was going to commit to the Melbourne Storm and sign on and extend his contract, he would’ve done so by now,’ Smith told SEN radio on Monday.

‘That’s my gut feeling.

‘He’s been at the club since he was 16 years of age and we’ve heard [Munster’s agent] Braith Anasta come out and say the Melbourne Storm offer is in the area where it should be, so what’s holding him back?

Cameron Smith (right) won two Grand Finals playing alongside Munster (left) with the Storm

‘I’d love him to stay but I feel like he will be going to the Dolphins.’

Munster is due to make $1.2million next season, but salary cap constraints limited Melbourne to table an offer for a two-year extension worth between $750,000 and $800,000-a-season. 

In May, however, the Storm agreed to raise their offer to $1million-a-year. According to the Daily Telegraph, the offer remains on the table but Melbourne aren’t expected to improve it.

At the same time, the Dolphins are reportedly prepared to offer Munster $1.3million per season, with Wayne Bennett desperate to land a marquee signing for the club’s second season in the NRL in 2024.

The Queensland star has previously hinted he could return to his home state

Munster himself has previously hinted moving back to Queensland may suit his family best.

‘If it was only about myself then I’d love to stay [in Melbourne],’ he said. 

‘At the same time I’ve got a young family that I need to worry about and obviously [Bianca] is from Queensland so we need to make sure we will make the right decision.’ 

The Tigers are interested in Munster and last week the 27-year-old confirmed he’d spoken to Benji Marshall, who will replace Tim Sheens in charge of Wests in 2025.

Wayne Bennett is desperate to bring Munster to the Dolphins for 2024

Last month, however, the Tigers distanced themselves from reports they were prepared to offer the Queensland State of Origin star a five-year deal worth $7million.

The Bulldogs, another club set to undergo major changes next season, are also understood to be in the running for Munster.

Speaking on Monday, Anasta confirmed a decision was not far away, but that Munster was ‘very confused’ about his future.

Munster’s agent Braith Anasta said the Queensland star was ‘very confused’ about his future

Munster’s season ended as the Storm were beaten 28-20 by Canberra on Saturday

‘Cameron will make a decision on whether he will stay in Melbourne or not, as discussed with [Storm chairman] Matt Tripp, I would assume over the next few weeks,’ the former New South Wales five-eight said. 

‘He is very confused. That is why I put the discussions back [until the Storm’s season was over]. I haven’t spoken to him because for the first time I could tell it was really playing on his mind.

‘So as exciting as the situation is to be in, it is a really tough one. I honestly have no idea right now what he is going to do. That will all come to a head pretty shortly I should imagine.’

Melbourne suffered their earliest finals exit in eight years on Saturday, as they lost 28-20 at home against the Raiders in the elimination final.