Munster escapes Storm injury toll to tackle Eels

Cameron Munster looks to have overcome his pelvic issue to lead an injury-hit Melbourne into battle against Parramatta in their NRL season opener.

CAMERON MUNSTER.
CAMERON MUNSTER. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

While they have a third of their squad out injured, star Melbourne playmaker Cameron Munster is fit and firing ahead of their NRL season-opener against Parramatta.

The Storm were unable to consider 10 of their 30-man list for the Thursday night's CommBank Stadium battle, and were granted NRL dispensation to elevate four players including second-rower Chris Lewis and centre Young Tonumaipea who were named in the match-day 17.

Kiwi rugby sevens convert Will Warbrick will make his NRL debut on the wing as the Storm look to continue their round one winning streak which dates back to 2001.

Coach Craig Bellamy said he felt they done enough work with a new-look line-up to successfully take on the 2022 grand finalists.

"We've had a few personnel changes with a few injuries so what we thought at the start of pre-season that our 17 would be, that's obviously changed a lot," Bellamy said on Wednesday.

"We've just had to work hard on the combinations and hopefully, it can click a little bit tomorrow night."

Munster said through the pre-season that he was battling osteitis pubis and frustratingly felt he'd lost some "zip".

However he showed no signs of discomfort in Melbourne's final training run before flying to Sydney with Bellamy saying his five-eighth looked in good shape.

"Probably when he came back from the World Cup he was a bit proppy for a bit but he seems to be going along OK now," Bellamy said.

"His last month of training has been pretty good so hopefully he might be over that."

While the Storm have been hit hard by injury on the flanks and in the second-row, their game-breaking spine has remained intact.

Recovering from a shattered knee-cap Ryan Papenhuyzen was never expected back before mid-season, with Nick Meaney locked in to wear the fullback jersey.

Joining the Storm for the 2022 season the versatile former Bulldog proved Mr fix it, but Bellamy felt he would thrive in a regular spot.

"I'm not quite sure what his best position is - he's played every position in the backline for us and maybe even at dummy-half at one stage," Bellamy said of the 25-year-old.

"He's done a terrific job for us, he's a very talented player but last year, at times he lacked a little bit of confidence but he's certainly confident in what he's doing now.

"He's a good talker back there and works hard so hopefully he does a really good job for us."