logo
NRL 2025: Harry Grant pays tribute to mourning Cameron Munster

NRL 2025: Harry Grant pays tribute to mourning Cameron Munster

Maroons hooker Harry Grant says the best way for the team to support Cameron Munster is 'with our performance and preparation' as the Queensland camp rallies around the skipper after his father died last week.
The champion five-eighth is spending time with his family as they grieve Steven Munster's death, with the Storm star set to fly to Sydney to rejoin his teammates ahead of the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night.
'It is a tough time for Cam, his immediate family, extended family and everyone in camp,' Grant said.
'But I think the best way we can support him is throwing our arms around him, and ultimately the best way we can support him right now is with our performance and with our preparation.
'It hits everyone hard. You don't know what's around the corner, so you've got to be nice and present and take in the moments that you have.
Maroons teammates have paid tribute to Cameron Munster's father Steven after he died last week. Picture: Instagram
'It's a beautiful family and I had plenty of moments with the family over the years. What we can control is our performance, and that's the best way to pay our respects to the family.'
No one could have begrudged Munster if he'd chosen not to play in Sydney given what had happened, but the Maroons skipper has made it clear he wants to play as his side looks to win back the shield.
'When you think about it, Cameron Munster captaining Queensland brings so much pride to the whole of his family, and Steve would love to see him out there in the Maroon captaining his state,' Grant said.
'I think it's very brave the way he's handling the situation, but we have to respect the way he's handling it and respect the way he's doing things and give him the time and space to flick the mind back to the Queensland Maroons and Origin.
'It's a show of character to Cameron but also his family. We have to respect what he's going through, but we know he wants to lace the boots up and wear the Maroon and make his family proud.'
Munster is expected to play in the Origin decider after a brilliant performance in Perth. Picture:Queensland will have their captain's run in Sydney on Tuesday, with Reece Walsh set to come into the side if Munster is unable to play.
But Grant said he wasn't focusing on contingency plans ahead of the series decider.
'There are plenty of possibilities you could go through, but you could be wasting energy thinking about that,' he said.
'Putting that in place, the coaches will have their understanding and they'll have those conversations. But as a playing group, we don't need to put our heads there.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

If anyone can overcome tragedy on the big stage, it's Cameron Munster
If anyone can overcome tragedy on the big stage, it's Cameron Munster

Sydney Morning Herald

time31 minutes ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

If anyone can overcome tragedy on the big stage, it's Cameron Munster

'There's no textbook for this sort of stuff', said Queensland coach Billy Slater on the eve of the State of Origin decider, in reference to the tragic passing of Cameron Munster's father. Indeed, there is no manual to follow for Munster, his family or the Maroons as they attempt to process the unfathomable death of Steven Munster at the age of just 58. That Munster chose to honour him by playing is no shock. There are few players in the history of the game that can compartmentalise the chaos surrounding them quite like Munster. But then again, the Maroons skipper has never had to contend with anything quite like this. A 'monkey clapping cymbals' was how the Storm star once famously described his state of mind on the field. It's that ability to 'goldfish' - to forget what has just transpired and make the next play count - that has made him one of the rugby league's greatest clutch performers. The big stage has never scared Munster, nor has expectation. After being named captain for Origin II, following the controversial sacking of skipper and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, the five-eighth chased the game like only he can. The added responsibility, coupled with the occasion, only provided more motivation. Those close to him feel the tragedy will only spur him on even further. 'Look, there was a fair bit of uncertainty with 'Munn' on Sunday morning when I was sitting in his room, but the one thing he was certain about is, he was very certain that he was playing on Wednesday night,' said Slater, who lost his own father this year. 'That's one thing that he was very firm with. He didn't have a lot of answers for a lot of other things, but he gave that one to me pretty straight.' The longest chat I've had with Munster was during the 2023 pre-season. It was a heady time for a man once described as the wild child of the NRL; he was still in the process of repairing his reputation following the white-powder scandal just over a year earlier, an incident that resulted in a stint in rehabilitation. And then there was his decision to knock back a mammoth Dolphins deal, a decision that doubly infuriated Wayne Bennett because Munster didn't deliver the news personally.

Geraldton set to host World Junior Windsurfing Championship grand final
Geraldton set to host World Junior Windsurfing Championship grand final

ABC News

time35 minutes ago

  • ABC News

Geraldton set to host World Junior Windsurfing Championship grand final

Some of the world's best young windsurfers are set to hit the waves on one of the windiest stretches of the West Australian coastline. Geraldton, 400 kilometres north of Perth, will host the World Wave grand final of the Junior World Windsurfing Championships in January — the first time the event will be held outside Europe. Competitors from around the world will take to the waves from January 10–18. World Wave Tour director Simeon Glasson said it was a landmark moment for the sport. "Bringing the grand final to Western Australia reflects our global vision for youth windsurfing and highlights Geraldton's world-class wind and wave conditions," he said. Western Australia had seven junior windsurfers who finished in the world's top 10 rankings in 2024. Geraldton Windsurfing Club president Peter Kenyon said securing the event was a huge coup for the town. "It's amazing; to wrestle it from the European circuit is a big achievement in itself," he said. "In the past couple of years, we've actually had a real increase in events in Geraldton. "It's really great to help the local community and windsurfing community to display what we've got." Depending on conditions, heats will be held across Sunset Beach, Spot X (Oakajee), or Coronation Beach. With the cost of travelling to Europe to compete, Mr Kenyon said the event being held locally would be a huge boost for home-grown competitors. "Having the under-18 world titles in Geraldton allows the Australian kids to compete," he said. "The event quite often has been in Europe, and the cost of travel to Europe is quite expensive, and for most of us, that is outside our budget. "It's showcasing the local talent in Geraldton and it gives our juniors an opportunity to compete without having to travel overseas." Mr Kenyon's daughter, Sarah, followed her father and family friends into the sport and is ranked number one in junior girls on the World Wave Tour. Sarah said it would be a special moment to compete at home. "It means a lot to me," she said. "I get to compete somewhere where I've been training so much and just to use those conditions to my advantage is pretty cool as well." Much like a football or a cricket team might experience a home-field advantage at their regular ground, Sarah said riding her home waves would be a big boost too. "I just know where to position myself and everything like that," she said. "And also, just because we have such great waves it will be so cool to make the most of them."

If anyone can overcome tragedy on the big stage, it's Cameron Munster
If anyone can overcome tragedy on the big stage, it's Cameron Munster

The Age

time35 minutes ago

  • The Age

If anyone can overcome tragedy on the big stage, it's Cameron Munster

'There's no textbook for this sort of stuff', said Queensland coach Billy Slater on the eve of the State of Origin decider, in reference to the tragic passing of Cameron Munster's father. Indeed, there is no manual to follow for Munster, his family or the Maroons as they attempt to process the unfathomable death of Steven Munster at the age of just 58. That Munster chose to honour him by playing is no shock. There are few players in the history of the game that can compartmentalise the chaos surrounding them quite like Munster. But then again, the Maroons skipper has never had to contend with anything quite like this. A 'monkey clapping cymbals' was how the Storm star once famously described his state of mind on the field. It's that ability to 'goldfish' - to forget what has just transpired and make the next play count - that has made him one of the rugby league's greatest clutch performers. The big stage has never scared Munster, nor has expectation. After being named captain for Origin II, following the controversial sacking of skipper and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, the five-eighth chased the game like only he can. The added responsibility, coupled with the occasion, only provided more motivation. Those close to him feel the tragedy will only spur him on even further. 'Look, there was a fair bit of uncertainty with 'Munn' on Sunday morning when I was sitting in his room, but the one thing he was certain about is, he was very certain that he was playing on Wednesday night,' said Slater, who lost his own father this year. 'That's one thing that he was very firm with. He didn't have a lot of answers for a lot of other things, but he gave that one to me pretty straight.' The longest chat I've had with Munster was during the 2023 pre-season. It was a heady time for a man once described as the wild child of the NRL; he was still in the process of repairing his reputation following the white-powder scandal just over a year earlier, an incident that resulted in a stint in rehabilitation. And then there was his decision to knock back a mammoth Dolphins deal, a decision that doubly infuriated Wayne Bennett because Munster didn't deliver the news personally.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store