- The rivalry on the field will continue until Sunday’s decisive match
- Storm’s hub said the couple “don’t really like each other”
Storm star Cameron Munster’s mother has told him to settle his differences with Penrith’s Liam Martin before Sunday’s NRL grand final because she “hates confrontation”.
Earlier this week, the Melbourne star said he is ready to renew bitter hostilities with the Panthers enforcer after revealing the pair “didn’t really like each other” as Kangaroos teammates.
Martin responded: “I thought we were okay, but obviously we’re not.” I don’t really care.’
Now Munster has revealed his mother Debbie had words with him once the row came to light.
“Mom is mom, she hates confrontation,” said the fifth-eighth to the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘She said, ‘You’ve got to make sure you go out and make peace with Liam.’ She loves football. She’s a big fan of Liam. We’ll see how we go.’
The grand final will be the latest chapter in a gripping ongoing battle between the two, who have faced each other repeatedly in the State of Origin arena.
In the first game of the 2021 series, the Queensland playmaker was fined after kicking Martin in the stomach, while last year the NSW second rower said he planned to “test” Munster’s fractured ribs.
Storm star Cameron Munster’s (pictured) mother has urged him to build bridges after he admitted he and Liam Martin “don’t really like each other”.
Martin (pictured) has a history of on-field clashes with the Melbourne Storm five-eighth
Ahead of the 2021 preliminary final between rival clubs, Martin said he had set his sights on the Storm star.
Martin said he intended to highlight Munster again in Sunday’s decider and at least prompt them to concede a couple of easy penalties.
Munster are in great final form, condemned twice in the 2018 defeat to the Sydney Roosters.
“I’m going to have to do it,” said Martin, who has been a key player in Penrith’s three successive titles.
“He’s a high-quality player and I love going up against him in the battles we have, so this will be no different.”
Storm No.6 admitted that Martin had previously gotten under his skin and would be ready for more trouble.
He said the couple had history both on and off the field.
“It’s funny, looking back, we probably didn’t like each other in the Australian camps, although we get along pretty well at the moment,” Munster said Monday ahead of the Storm’s open training session.
“I’m sure Sunday will be a little different, so I’m looking forward to the battle.
The clash between the two State of Origin adversaries will be one of the highlights of Sunday’s decider, as Penrith will look to avenge their 2020 grand final defeat to the Storm.
“We’ve always had a great rivalry and we wanted to be competitive and outdo each other. He’ll want to cut my head off and vice versa.”
“He is a quality player, very strong and very aggressive… I know he is coming, so I am going to go out and play the football I can play.”
“He’s tried to get under my skin and it worked a couple of times, so I just have to get out there and not burn out.”
As things stand this season, Melbourne were minor premiers heading into the 2021 preliminary final but were beaten 10-6 by Penrith, who then beat South Sydney for the first of three consecutive titles.
“We played really well that year and we played the worst game in the biggest game, but they were just the better team that night,” Munster said.
“It’s one of those years you always remember, the year that got away.”
Their most recent grand final was in 2020, won 26-20 by the Storm, which was their last title.
Martin believes this lit the fire for the Panthers’ premiership run.
“I think so,” the 27-year-old said.
“If you talk to someone who loses a GF, they pass you a pretty high price and you leave and are even hungrier, so that gave us a boost, when it first happened.”