Round 21 NRL tips: Melbourne backed to continue winning ways despite grim Munster revelation
Melbourne superstar Cameron Munster will make his long-awaited return from an adductor injury on Friday night.
The gun five-eighth will line up against the Eels in what will be his first appearance since round 11.
But his return has come with a grim forecast from the embattled Queensland and Australian representative.
READ MORE: Matildas mortally wounded in brutal reality check
READ MORE: Why this Aussie champ could boycott Paris podium
READ MORE: 'Deeply shocked': Champ sorry for child rapist call
Munster revealed he will need a double hip operation as soon as the Storm's season ends.
"I didn't need surgery, I tore the ligament which surgeons go in and cut – I did a surgical tear myself – so I saved the club some money," Munster told The Sydney Morning Herald.
"But I'll need both hips done at the end of the year. I'll get both done.
Cameron Munster of the Melbourne Storm. Jason McCawley/Getty Images
"A lot of players get it, especially if they kick a lot. These old hips and legs are coming to an end.
"Recovery for the hips will be nine to ten weeks. So there goes the off-season."
The revelation means Munster will be unavailable for the end-of-year Kangaroos Tests.
Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
His injury, though, is not deterring Nine's expert tipsters when it comes to Melbourne's clash with Parramatta on Friday night.
The Storm sit two games clear on top of the NRL ladder and are steaming towards a minor premiership, despite having missed Munster for the past three months.
The Eels are only being buoyed off the bottom of the table by the Tigers, who sit one win back in last position.
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 21 tips by all Nine's expert tipsters!
Wide World of Sports tipping leaderboard after round 20. Nine
Andrew Johns: Warriors, Storm, Broncos, Sharks, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Titans, Raiders
Ruan Sims: Warriors, Storm, Bulldogs, Sharks, Roosters, Panthers, Dolphins, Rabbitohs
Darren Lockyer: Warriors, Storm, Broncos, Cowboys, Roosters, Panthers, Dolphins, Rabbitohs
Brad Fittler: Warriors, Storm, Broncos, Sharks, Roosters, Panthers, Dolphins, Raiders
Allana Ferguson: Warriors, Storm, Broncos, Sharks, Roosters, Panthers, Dolphins, Raiders
Paul Gallen: Warriors, Storm, Broncos, Sharks, Roosters, Panthers, Dolphins, Rabbitohs
Peter Psaltis: Warriors, Storm, Broncos, Cowboys, Roosters, Panthers, Dolphins, Raiders
Michael Chammas: Warriors, Storm, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Roosters, Panthers, Titans, Rabbitohs
The Mole: Warriors, Storm, Broncos, Cowboys, Roosters, Panthers, Dolphins, Rabbitohs
Mat Thompson: Warriors, Storm, Broncos, Cowboys, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Dolphins, Raiders
Ben Glover: Warriors, Storm, Broncos, Sharks, Roosters, Panthers, Dolphins, Rabbitohs
David Middleton: Warriors, Storm, Broncos, Sharks, Roosters, Panthers, Dolphins, Rabbitohs
