'I don't want to be that player': Munster on brain snap
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Melbourne's Cameron Munster has vowed to control his emotions after his reckless kick to the head of Roosters centre Joey Manu almost cost him a Kangaroos jersey.
Munster became the first player to be sin-binned twice in an NRL grand final after he followed a first-half professional foul with his 78th-minute kick to Manu's head in the play-the-ball.
The Storm star will be free to play in Australia's end-of-season Tests against New Zealand and Tonga by taking the early plea to a grade one contrary contact charge, though his hip pocket will be $1400 lighter under the game's fine system.
Munster said he had apologised to Manu immediately after the incident and did not want to be known as a liability when frustrations mount.
"There was no malice in it, I'm really sorry for what happened," Munster said.
"I'm not usually that type of player and I think the pressure and playing the grand final, obviously wanting to win and being a very competitive person (led to the brain snap).
"I've apologised to Manu about it. I didn't really make any contact and I didn't really try to kick him hard at all. It was just a brain explosion and I'm really regretful at the moment.
"I don't want to be known as that kind of player and I'm very sorry."
Match Highlights: Roosters v Storm
Speaking to reporters before Mal Meninga's 19-man Kangaroos squad was named, Munster feared the incident could have seen him rubbed out of next Saturday's clash with the Kiwis at Mt. Smart Stadium.
Munster was crowned the Dally M five-eighth of the year thanks to his outstanding 2018 campaign.
Following his Test commitments Munster will look to nut out his future beyond next year with the Storm set to go all out with a lengthy, multi-million-dollar extension to keep rival suitors, including the Roosters, at bay.
But despite his stellar season Munster said his forgettable grand final outing, particularly the Manu brain explosion, took the gloss off a campaign that established him as one of the game's truly elite stars.
"I'm really happy with the way I played this year," Munster said.
"Even though we lost tonight I'm very grateful to be in a third grand final.
I would've been a happy man, even though we lost, just making the grand final.
"But being sent off for the second time for 10, it really is killing me at the moment. I don't want to be known like that. I'll go back to the drawing board and sort something out."
