Months after sending Cameron Munster home from Kangaroos camp, Mal Meninga has backed the Melbourne playmaker to reclaim his Test jersey in a standout 2018 NRL season.
Munster was on thin ice with Meninga after it was claimed the Storm star was banished from Australia's 2017 World Cup campaign last November for coming to blows with teammate Ben Hunt.
Munster, 23, was eventually welcomed back to the Kangaroos camp a game later before Australia's semi-final clash.
The Storm were forced to deny pre-season reports that they had become frustrated with the young gun's off-field behaviour and were considering releasing him.
All now seems to be forgiven for Munster with Meninga backing him to step up for Melbourne in the absence of Sydney Roosters recruit Cooper Cronk this year.
He has been named at fullback, replacing veteran Billy Slater (shoulder) for Saturday night's NRL season-opener against Canterbury in Perth.
"I think he will go to another level after playing Origin last year and being picked in the Kangaroos," Meninga told Fox League's Queenslanders Only.
"A few things happened in the off-season for him but he's at Melbourne ... I think that is the best environment for him.
"With Cooper Cronk not being there I think he has to step up and I think that he can.
"I think he will have enormous impact on the Storm's success.
"I think he will get back into Origin and maybe the Kangaroos at the back end of the year."
Munster is about to begin his fifth NRL season after a 2017 campaign that featured a premiership plus State of Origin and Test debuts before losing his way at the World Cup.
Storm skipper Cameron Smith admitted before the 2018 kick-off that Munster must address his off-field behaviour if he wanted to become a "special player".
Munster was also among eight players who were hit with a 12-month Origin ban by coach Kevin Walters for breaking curfew at the 2016 Emerging Maroons camp.
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