‘Don’t think that’s been forgotten’: Bad blood lingers over GF after Storm star’s mocking act

When it comes to bad blood Melbourne and Penrith have bucket loads and it’s set to spill onto Accor Stadium’s turf in Sunday’s NRL Grand Final.

Tensions between the sides can be traced back to 2020 when Storm halfback Jarome Hughes took the absolute proverbial by using hand signals to mock the Mt Druitt roots of certain Penrith players during premiership celebrations of Melbourne’s 26-20 grand final win over the Panthers.

That same footage was later used by Penrith as inspiration for their 2021 preliminary final victory over Melbourne before they went on to dominate the competition and win three successive titles.

Watch the Dally M Awards Wednesday night LIVE and exclusive to Fox League on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

That fuse was again lit this week when Storm star Cameron Munster admitted he and Panthers enforcer Laim Martin “probably didn’t like each other in Aussie camps” after repeated niggle between the pair in Origin and NRL clashes.

That bad blood remains.

“You only have to go back to the 2020 Grand Final where Jahrome Hughes came out and apologised for mocking the Penrith players in a video where he was using hand signals and whatnot mock them, mock the Panthers players,” The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio told Fox League’s NRL 360.

“And I don’t think that’s been forgotten by the Penrith players. It speaks to both the rivalry and the animosity between two quality sides.

“At this point in time, boys, and at the time of the 2020 GF, it was used as motivation for the Panthers players, by the coaching staff at that time, to get up for this. You look for any edge you can at this point in time.”

Munster this week declared Martin will want to want to “take my head off” in the grand final with animosity between the pair likely stemming from an incident in the 2021 Origin series.

Munster, playing for Queensland, was charged with kicking Martin and copped a fine with the Panthers hardman later labelling the Storm half’s antics a “bit annoying”.

The Maroons playmaker this week added fuel to the fire after admitting the pair didn’t get on while on Kangaroos representative duty.

“Liam is Liam. It’s funny looking back on it, we probably didn’t like each other in Aussie camps,” Munster said.

“He’s tried to get under my skin and it worked a fair few times. I have just got to go out there and not get frazzled.”

Martin said he was taken aback by Munster’s comments.

“I was actually surprised by that,” Martin said.

“I thought we were fine, but if he feels like that then that’s his problem. It won’t change anything on Sunday. I’ll play the exact same.

“I don’t remember any issues during camp. I think I beat him in poker and thought we were fine, but obviously that’s not the case.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him, I enjoy the way he plays. We’re both ultra competitors. Every time he gets on the field he wants to win. I like playing against him.

“We’ve always had good match-ups and try to get under each other’s skin, and it will be no different on Sunday – he’ll be giving his best, I’ll be giving mine.”

Panthers captain Isaah Yeo said he was aware of the pair’s history, with the Maroons labelling the Blues back-rower a “grub” during last year’s Origin series.

“They annoy each other all the time, they’re similar, both pranksters, and niggle each other on and off the field,” Yeo said, having been on the same Kangaroos tour in 2022 with both players.

“‘Marto’ can be up in your face. If things are going well, and he makes a big play, you can see how excited he gets.

“That kind of stuff is important. Marto brings a different energy to what someone else might bring, particularly in big games. He does those little one-percenters so well.”