'You cannot play with it': Andrew Johns' dire warning to sidelined Storm superstar Cameron Munster
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 08: Cameron Munster of the Storm talks to Dylan Edwards of the Panthers after the round one NRL match between Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers at AAMI Park on March 08, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Getty
Andrew Johns has sent a dire warning to sidelined star Cameron Munster, predicting the Storm playmaker could be sidelined for up to four months with a groin injury.
The 28-year-old was unavailable for Melbourne's season opener against the Panthers on Friday night, with the hosts prevailing 8-0 in front of their AAMI Park faithful.
Munster slipped in the shower and aggravated the injury during the club's pre-season trip to Fiji, with no clear timeframe for his return.
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The five-eighth revealed after the win over Penrith that the medical staff have not been able to recognise the extent of the issue, with his status in the Storm line-up now a week-to-week proposition.
Johns, however, explained the potential severity of Munster's groin issue, which the rugby league Immortal dealt with during his own playing career at Newcastle.
Cameron Munster chats to Dylan Edwards after Melbourne's round one win over Penrith. Getty
"I carried mine for 18 months and if you don't jump on top of it, they will just hang around for months," he told Nine's The Sunday Footy Show.
"They just linger - I had four operations on it. It's very hard to train and you've got to do all this core work. You've got to get the right treatment and you need to get on top of it. When it's bad, you cannot play with it - you've got no power, you can't run.
"If he gets on top of it and he responds, it could be a month … If it doesn't improve, it could be three or four months, we just don't know.
"This is a real crucial injury not only for the Storm, but for Cameron Munster."
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While young gun Jonah Pezet did a solid job in the vacant playmaking role in round one, Melbourne's premiership hopes rely on Munster being available, while the Maroons will also be sweating on his fitness for the State of Origin series.
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Brad Fittler sympathised with Munster and reflected on his own injury journey, with concerns growing for the fan-favourite Rockhampton product.
"I had five operations in two years," Fittler said.
"It's all different for everyone … It's some sort of imbalance.
"Cam Munster even said they've had X-rays, MRIs and it's one of those things where there is no science or maths to it."
