Unprecedented desire trumps Munster's off training days

Cameron Munster still has off days where he sends "a lot of balls sailing over the sideline" of Melbourne's training paddock, but Craig Bellamy is seeing an unprecedented desire to lead from his new marquee man.

Munster was on fire and in most everything in the Storm's 32-2 rout of the Panthers in Bathurst, scoring the first try, nabbing three one-on-one strips and kicking for almost 300 metres as his side shot to the top of the ladder.

After rejecting a slew of rival clubs to ink a four-year Storm deal believed to be worth more than $3.5 million late last year, Munster is now the face of the club and increasingly Bellamy's on-field focal point, a role he has embraced with rare gusto.

"He's one hell of a player. You don't really see it a whole lot during the week in training," Bellamy mused.

"He can have his on and off days and periods in training but he's the ultimate competitor.

"Since Cooper [Cronk] and Billy [Slater] have gone he has taken on more responsibility without a doubt.

"You just notice him mature and actually take on without a whole lot of encouragement from the coaches, he's done it himself.

"He's realised that Cooper's not here now, I've got to take on more responsibility. Billy's not here now I've got to take on more responsibility. And he has, he's been tremendous.

"He gives us a lot more in our meetings and he's a great guy to have in your team on and off the field."

Munster enjoys a special player-coach relationship with Bellamy, giving plenty of cheek and keeping the veteran coach on edge around Gosch's Paddock.

Bellamy in turn has given Munster his fair share of sprays and guidance to keep him on the straight and narrow over the years, but he concedes Munster's point of difference remains his best asset.

"A lot of balls sailing over the sideline out of his hands," Bellamy says when asked to elaborate on what Munster's off days look like.

"He is a bit creative as well. He tries things. Sometimes you've just got to play the high percentages.

"But that's what you like about him too. He's always thinking about the game, he's very smart, he's very clever as everyone can see.

"He's not scared to take a risk either. I'm probably a bit more conservative in some areas there. But he's a tremendous guy to have around the club, too. He makes all of our jobs a little bit more fun."