The long-standing love-hate relationship has continued between Melbourne's Cameron Munster and Liam Martin, with the Penrith enforcer coming out on top at AAMI Park.
While Munster's Storm got the competition points from their NRL grand final rematch on Thursday night with a 30-24 victory, the star playmaker was involved in two incidents with the gun Panthers second-rower.
The Melbourne five-eighth was penalised and put on report in the 29th minute for an alleged hip-drop tackle as he tried to bring a rampaging Martin to ground, with the Penrith player left clutching at his ankle.
Then with three minutes left on the clock and the Panthers hunting a try to take the game into golden point, Munster was penalised again, unnecessarily rough-housing his rival after he knocked on.
The Storm No.6 said he was disappointed in his actions but didn't believe it was worth a penalty.
"I'm still a bit sceptical on the penalty, to be honest," Munster said.
"I think there was nothing in it, I've seen him (Martin) do worse, I've seen players in the game do a lot worse but I'm pretty disappointed with it because it could have changed the game and made it a draw and then we could have gone the extra time."
Munster also said there was no malice in the first-half tackle and blamed the slippery conditions.
"I tried to get my arm around his legs but it was a wet field out there and it was slippery.
"It didn't look great but I feel like I wasn't putting all my weight into his legs, I felt like I tried to wrap my arm around him and, unfortunately, he was just big and strong and it just looked ugly but hopefully, fingers crossed, we can get off."
The pair have a storied history, with the Maroons team labelling the Blues back-rower a "grub" during the 2023 year's Origin series.
Two years earlier in Origin I, Munster was fined for kicking Martin as he lay on the Townsville turf.
During the build-up to last year's grand final Munster told reporters that the Kangaroos teammates "didn't really like each other in Aussie camp", which was news to Martin.
Munster's mum Debbie even got involved, telling her son to make up with the Penrith ace.
Munster insisted it was all good fun.
"It's always fun with Marto - he's a great quality back-rower, one of the best in the game and it's always good to go up against him and see where you're at," he said.
"We like a little bit of niggle between each other."
