Cameron Munster was the star of the show as the Melbourne Storm recorded a hard-fought 18-10 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs - however his post-game prank was more memorable than his performance during the match.
As players from both sides were mingling on the field, Storm winger Xavier Coates was chatting with one of the Rabbitohs trainers when Munster walked past, stopped and pulled down the shorts of the trainer, before giving him a hug.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Cameron Munster and Harry Grant’s post-game prank on Souths trainer.
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“Oh, oh my god,” Fox League’s Yvonne Sampson laughed as the moment was captured by the cameras.
“Cameron Munster, the world’s best pest in the NRL has just dacked the trainer. He hasn’t worked hard enough if he’s still got pranks in him after 80 minutes.”
The trainer thought that was the end of the joke, however Storm hooker Harry Grant also got in on the act and pulled down the shorts of the Rabbitohs staff member as he was talking to Munster.
Munster and Grant then smacked the trainer as the three men enjoyed a laugh together and shared a hug in a warm embrace.
Rugby league great Gorden Tallis revealed the trainer was also the Queensland Maroons trainer and he knew Munster and Grant from their time together during State of Origin.
“There’s the three Queenslanders over there and obviously they just wanted to dack him and I don’t know why. I don’t know why but that’s Cameron Munster. I think there’s a few kangaroos short in the top paddock for that kid.”
After scoring an unconvincing win over the Wests Tigers, Melbourne resembled their usual selves more closely on Friday night, edging South Sydney with a gutsy defensive performance.
The Storm endured a Rabbitohs onslaught in the second half but banded together with the kind of team defence which has ensured consistent success across the 20 previous years of coach Craig Bellamy’s tenure.
“We want to be a good defensive side first and foremost and, with all due respect, this year we haven’t been that,” Bellamy said post-match.
“I just thought tonight there was a lot of desperate effort out there.”
Melbourne’s status as perennial heavyweights costs them star players each year but the most recent off-season was particularly grim, with the Storm losing important forwards Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi and Brandon Smith.
The reinforcements have been lower-profile players, mostly from within the club’s ranks, and Bellamy said the side was always going to take some time to adjust.
“Without a doubt,” Bellamy said.
“We’ve had a big changeover in the last couple of years, especially in our leadership and experienced players.
“This year is probably the least experienced team I’ve ever coached at the Storm.”
Second-rowers Kaufusi and Kenny Bromwich had been mainstays on the edges since before the Storm’s 2020 premiership season but they’ve been replaced by 22-year-old Trent Loiero and ex-Warrior Eliesa Katoa.
“When Cameron (Smith), Billy (Slater), Cooper (Cronk) and those guys were there, with all due respect, I probably didn’t do a whole heap of coaching. It was just sort of managing the side,” he said.
“It has been a little bit different, without a doubt, but I’ve quite enjoyed it.”
- With AAP
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