NRL Finals: Braith Anasta reveals how Melbourne Storm star Cameron Munster turned his career around

Cameron Munster has gone through every high and low imaginable throughout his NRL career - but a partnership with a former star has helped him bounce back to his best. 

Less than two years ago, the 28-year-old hit rock bottom in both his professional and personal life, with a leaked video involving 'white powder' during the Storm's post-season celebrations.

Munster was fined $30,000 and suspended for one game, while also being stood down from Melbourne's leadership group and entering an alcohol rehabilitation centre for a month-long period.

In the following 24 months, Munster has turned his life and career around, cementing himself as one of rugby league's best modern-day players and characters.

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Braith Anasta details Cameron Munster's career turnaround

Amid his off-field drama prior to the 2022 campaign, Munster would link up with former Roosters and Bulldogs playmaker Braith Anasta and his management company, Searoo Sports. 

It led to perhaps the best year of Munster's career from an individual perspective, dominating in both the club and representative arena for Melbourne, Queensland and Australia. 

Speaking on a recent episode of The Bye Round Podcast, Anasta opened up on the relationship between the pair that kicked off during Munster's lowest point.

“Cam had already been through that before I’d spoken to him," he said.

"We just connected, got along well and had a mutual respect. He’d been through a hell of a lot and he looked himself in the mirror and realised he had to change his ways and he made huge sacrifices in doing that.

"One of those was coming on board with me… how do we get you back to where you were? He’d already made a lot of those decisions himself. He put a lot of emphasis back into himself and into the team and into his relationships.

"In turn, his footy benefited from it and that was the whole of last year, he was flying and he was off-contract – it was a massive year. We made sure he was doing all the right things off the field, which then transitioned onto the field.

"He’s done well to bounce back from that, it’s a credit to him."

Why the old-school Cameron Munster will never die

While the positive changes made in his life and the birth of his two young children Jaxon and Jagger has helped maintain Munster's steady lifestyle, his personality is still as vibrant as ever. 

Anasta - who played with and against some of the greats such as Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler - believes the enigmatic five-eighth would have been a perfect fit for the previous generation.

“You talk about play hard, party hard – he’s certainly not a partier anymore, but he’s old-school, he’s like one of us back in the day and he would have fitted into the Bulldogs team or Roosters team of yesteryear," Anasta said.

"He is a larrikin, which I love, he is different to everyone else and everything he does, he does it at 100 per cent. You watch his games and he just fights for everything and he’s a freak.

'"He is also very intelligent and his knowledge of the game is second to none when I talk to him. When he loses, it f*****g hurts him and he doesn’t want to talk to anyone… it hits him in the heart, that’s the type of competitor he is.

"He’s got a bit of a loose side, but so does Joey and so does Freddy – a lot of the greats do, because that’s the way that their mind works.

"The guy is switched on, do not be fooled… I love working with him and trying to help him and his family. I love talking footy with him – he’s one of them, a lot of guys don’t want to talk footy… he teaches me stuff."

Braith Anasta reflects on Cameron Munster contract saga

After signing a new deal, Munster earned the Cameron Smith Medal for the Storm's player of the year in 2022, as well as lifting the State of Origin shield and World Cup trophy in a stellar continuation to his growing on-field legacy. 

However, his long-term extension with the Storm didn't come without its hurdles, with his manager revealing the temptation to move closer to home and join the Dolphins was very close to coming to fruition.

“That was a big decision – he was going," Anasta said.

"There was a point there, he had on foot out… in the end, to him, winning was too important.

"Winning to him in his life was more important than the dollar… that’s what inspires him and that’s what makes him get up every morning."

Munster will remain in a purple jersey until at least the end of 2027, where he will undoubtedly be hoping to add to his two NRL premiership rings. 

For this season, the job is still not done for the Storm as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 26-0 qualifying final loss to the Broncos and keep their title hopes alive. 

Cameron Munster 2023 NRL stats