Wayne Bennett has conceded he had given up hope of signing Cameron Munster well before it was announced that he had re-signed with the Melbourne Storm. Munster knocked back what reportedly would have been the richest per season deal ever signed by an NRL player, with News Corp claiming the final offer from the Dolphins was $1.4 million-a-season over four years.
While the Dolphins had spent months attempting to woo the Queensland Origin hero back to his home state on the whopping $5.6 million deal, their inaugural head coach said that he’d feared the worst for some time.
The veteran coach said the communication had dropped off, adding that he was disappointed that neither Munster nor his manager Braith Anasta picked up the phone to be up front with him about their decision.
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“It was just such a drawn-out, procrastinated situation,” Bennett told Triple M’s Rush Hour with Leisel Jones, Liam and Dobbo.
”I never had any confidence in the end. At the beginning I did, but at the end I didn’t have any confidence that he’d be coming.
“I don’t feel disappointed, I’d prepared myself for it. I just knew.”
Bennett said the entire process involving communication between himself and Munster’s manager was “ordinary” and that he wished more players would communicate themselves when they’ve made a decision.
“I understand about managers and all that – there is a need for them – but what I can’t get, and what I don’t relate to and I struggle with is the fact that the players, for all the tough conversations that have got to be had, are missing,” he said.
“They don’t ring you up and tell you they’re not coming. They don’t make that phone call.
“That’s a tough phone call, it’s a phone call none of us want to make. But if you want to be a man, then you’ve got to behave like one.”
Bennett said he wasn’t surprised, nor was he expecting a phone call from Munster ahead of the announcement.
“It’s tough telling someone you’re not going to come … that’s the price you’ve got to pay so you can grow into being the man you can be proud of,” Bennett added.
There’s plenty of speculation as to whom the Dolphins will chase next; both Munster and Kalyn Ponga are off the table, as is Ben Hunt, who re-signed with the Dragons on Wednesday.
Bennett said there won’t be any panic buying.
“It’s left us with a lot of money in the salary cap to go out and buy a quality player. And we will not spend that money until we get that player,” Bennett said.
“I’ll play with one less next year to make sure we get the right player for ’24. I’m not going to go out and spend that money now on someone we don’t think can deliver what we need.”
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