Greg Inglis situation haunting Melbourne Storm as Cameron Munster exit links take twist

The Melbourne Storm are facing a salary cap squeeze after the re-signing of Jahrome Hughes and reporter Phil Rothfield believes one of the 'Big Four' will have to depart. Melbourne fans were overjoyed on Monday when it was revealed Hughes had signed a four-year extension with the Storm and will remain until 2030.

And while the Storm are looking to lock down players such as Harry Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster for the future, it has been reported the club are dealing with a salary cap squeeze. Papenhuyzen is contracted to the Storm until the end of next season and is available to talk to rival clubs on 1 November.

The Melbourne Storm are facing a salary cap squeeze after the re-signing of Jahrome Hughes and reporter Phil Rothfield believes one of the 'Big Four' will have to depart with Greg Inglis (pictured far left) leaving the Storm in 2011. (Images: Getty Images)

Grant also has the same deal having taken up an extension until the end of 2026. Xavier Coates and Nick Meaney are also coming to the end of their deals with the club likely keen on keeping them. While Hughes has been locked down for the long-term, questions are being asked around Munster's next move. Munster has a deal with the Storm until the end of 2027. 

And a decision on whether he stays in Melbourne or not will most likely determine whether young playmaker Jonah Pezet remains at the Storm. Regardless, if the Storm are able to retain Grant and Papenhuyzen on an extended deal in the next 12 months, it could leave the club's salary cap tight.

There are also reports Mal Meninga is keen to bring Munster over to the Bears as their marquee signing. Munster has been heavily linked with a move to Perth after his deal ends in 2027 and the riches the new club will be able to dish out could far outweigh that of Melbourne's.

And speaking on Triple M Radio, Rothfield feels the Storm have been in this scenario before. Back in 2010, the Melbourne Storm were hit with salary cap breaches and the fallout was brutal. At the time, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis made up the 'Big Four' with the Storm dominating the competition.

Although it has since been revealed Inglis offered to leave with the club facing salary cap pressure. Inglis joined the Rabbitohs in 2011, where he went on to win a premiership in 2014. And Rothfield feels he has seen this scenario before with Melbourne and feels one of Grant, Papenhuyzen or Munster will leave now Hughes has re-signed so the squad can be balanced.

"I think back to the last time Melbourne had a big four, and one had to go," he said on Triple M. "Inglis had to leave the club...you can't have a big four in rugby league these days if you want balance in your salary cap. They have got so much power, so much class across the park, someone is going to have to go. Munster, the spotlight's on him. Perth, I reckon would be mad to not have the Queensland captain."

Since Hughes' update, The Sydney Morning Herald reported Papenhuyzen has met with R360 officials. If Papenhuyzen is tempted to join the new rugby union competition, that would leave more salary cap space for Munster to potentially finish his career at the Storm with his next deal set to be when he is 33 years old.

Although not everyone believes Munster will take up the mega-money deal potentially on offer at the Bears. Storm legend Smith believes Munster will remain a one-club player. 

Cameron Munster (pictured) has been linked with the Perth Bears on a mega-money deal.

While Munster has been linked to a huge deal at Perth, Smith feels his former teammate won't want to move his family across the country. Munster will be 33 at the end of his current deal and might want to remain a one-club player with Bianca and himself settled in Melbourne.

"Knowing Cam Munster and the type of person he is, I think he'd like to stick out his time in the NRL as a one-club player," Smith said on 100% Footy. "He's built a great life down there in Melbourne around his football career, he's built a young family with his wife Bianca.

"I know he's got a great relationship with Craig Bellamy and also the chairman, Matt Tripp. I really can't see him moving on and playing elsewhere. I know it'd be fairly enticing as a marquee player moving over to the west and the new franchise."

Greg Inglis (pictured left) left the Melbourne Storm in 2011 with Billy Slater (pictured middle) and and Cameron Smith (pictured right) remaining.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/greg-inglis-situation-haunting-melbourne-storm-as-cameron-munster-exit-links-take-twist-010704261.html

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