Munster inches closer to NRL return

Apr 12, 2017 - 8:31 AM Melbourne star Cameron Munster has moved a step closer to returning after completing contact work for the first time since suffering a broken jaw last month.

Munster is racing the clock to be fit for Saturday's NRL clash with Manly and could slot straight into the five-eighth jersey.

The 22-year-old Queenslander spent all of last year and the first two games of 2017 in the No.1 jersey.

He was set to be shifted into the No.6 position with Billy Slater's return from a shoulder injury however he suffered a fractured jaw in their round three win over Brisbane.

With Slater back in the side and firing, Munster has been named in Craig Bellamy's 21-man squad and a move into the halves beckons.

Storm fans would have been heartened by vision of Munster running around training in headgear with coach Bellamy saying he was a chance to take on the Sea Eagles.

But Bellamy wasn't so upbeat about prop Jesse Bromwich, who missed last week's loss to Cronulla with a back injury.

He said the New Zealand front-rower was on light duties and struggling to be fit to take on the Sea Eagles.

"We'd like to think they (Munster and Bromwich) are a chance." Bellamy said

"Munster is going to a bit of contact today, he hasn't done any contact at all. So we'll see how he goes.

"Jesse will only be very light again today.

"If he's real stiff we'll probably pull him out today. If he's not too bad we'll give him until Friday."

Centre Cheyse Blair appears set to return from a back injury, easing the selection headache in the outside backs brought on by Will Chambers' shoulder charge suspension.

"We didn't think Cheyse earlier in the week was any chance but he's improved more than what the medical staff thought," Bellamy said.

"We've got a long turnaround after this so we're not going to take any chances with anyone."

Source: AAP