You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content

Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster revealed that a Zoom call with Anthony Minichiello has been part of his rejuvenation as he recovers from post-season hip surgery.

The 30-year-old has lost four kilograms as he plots a path to a fully healthy and effective 2025 after he admitted that his diet had held him back in the past.

“I spoke to a guy called Anthony Minichiello – hopefully he wouldn’t mind me mentioning him!” Munster said.

“I had a one-hour Zoom with him just about diet, and what obstacles he had to endure when he had his back surgery and his problems. I’m trying to do something different for myself, and hopefully it pays dividends this year.”

The chat with the Roosters and Blues legend came about thanks to a suggestion from the Storm’s Head of Performance, Lachlan Penfold, to reach out to past players and see what could be taken from their experiences.

“Lachie questioned my diet, or questioned me. I felt like at times, in games, I was not eating the right food on the game day... I wouldn’t eat certain meals and I probably wasn’t energised enough on game day,” Munster said.

Munster celebrates 200 in style

“I just wanted to make sure I did everything right prep-wise during the week that I knew when it comes to game day, I didn’t have to worry about weighing in or be worrying about my weight.

“He [Penfold] asked me to reach out to guys like Anthony, and just to listen to their story, and it just made me want to be better.

"We chatted about diet and the obstacles he had to endure when he had his back surgery, just tried to something different and hopefully it pays dividends for the team this year.

"I had a little niggle last year and it wasn't the footy that I wanted to play. I was in and out of games and I wasn't probably helping the team out.

"I know we got to the grand final but I felt like I was still playing on one leg at stages. I'm sure a lot of blokes in the team have got niggles but I just wanted to make sure my body was feeling really good coming into the pre-season."

Munster has been training with the team since mid-January after joining the group for the second week of their annual Geelong training camp.

Along with Bronson Garlick and Nick Meaney, who also had hip surgery in the off-season, Munster is tracking to return ahead of schedule and is set to play in a trial against the Cowboys on February 23.

“When we’ve got the performance staff that we have, we’ve pushed the standards up,” he said, after praising the work of the Storm physios.

“We’ve got a lot of guys coming through that [pathways] system, and they’re probably keeping us accountable. We haven’t had that as an older group before, but some of the boys are probably chipping us here and there, and it’s good for the group.

James Graham dissects the Storm's 2025 NRL Draw

“I’m pretty fit at the moment, I could be a little bit fitter, but I’m pretty excited to see how the next three weeks go and hopefully see how I go at trials as well.

"I just wanted to be the best I could be for the team, more consistency off the field, I'm training better. It just helps the team out and they can trust me going out on the paddock that I have done everything I can in my preparation during the week and they know I'll be out there playing the best I can."

The Storm will look to continue their remarkable Round 1 streak when they tackle the Eels on March 9.

“There’s a question mark on Parra. They’re probably a little bit of a dark horse to be honest, you don’t know what they’re going to come out with," Munster said.

“We’re excited for the challenge. We’ve had a really good record in Round 1. We’ve had a really good pre-season. We’ll just focus on the next couple of trials.

“The younger boys are playing in New Zealand, and hopefully we’ll get our full squad against the Cowboys at Casey and have a good turnout there – but very confident with the group.”

Match: Storm v Eels

Round 1 -

Storm

home Team

Storm

Eels

away Team

Eels

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne

Match broadcasters:

  • WatchNRL
Acknowledgement of Country

National 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.

Premier Partner

Media Partners

Major Partners

View All Partners