Melbourne are confident of securing Cameron Munster beyond 2019 with Storm boss Dave Donaghy saying the NRL superstar has told him he wants to stay with the club.
The 23-year-old utility is the most sought-after player in the competition with up to seven NRL clubs chasing him, led by the Sydney Roosters, who see him as a replacement in 2020 for Cooper Cronk.
Melbourne won't let him go without a fight, particularly with Billy Slater retiring and Cameron Smith yet to commit to another season.
Munster has put contract extension talks on hold until the end of the season, but chief executive Donaghy says the delay shouldn't be a concern for Storm fans.
"The one thing that I know about Cam is that he's straight up with us," Donaghy told SEN Afternoons.
"He wants to stay in Melbourne - he's looked us in the eye and told us that.
"For us it's about working through a structure and a contract arrangement which is acceptable to both parties and that's going to take some time."
Donaghy says he believes it's a sign of Munster's growing maturity that he has chosen to focus solely on helping the Storm defend their premiership rather than be distracted by contract negotiations.
Munster had a long-term extension pulled by the Storm during the off-season after the club was unhappy with his behaviour while away with the Kangaroos at the Rugby League World Cup, but he has redeemed himself with a stellar season.
"Pleasingly for us he has grown as an athlete and a human," Donaghy said.
"The maturity I feel he's shown to say that he wants to put the team's performance and his own performance during the finals before his own contract talks - I think that's a really good thing," Donaghy said.
"If I was a Storm member or fan I wouldn't be too concerned."
Melbourne have three months to get a deal done or Munster will become a free agent on November 1 and could command money in excess of $1 million a season from 2020.
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