Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Liam Martin is ready to renew his rivalry with Queensland livewire Cameron Munster, with the Blues back-rower declaring: “As soon as we cross that line, anything goes.”
Munster put the boot into Martin, literally, as he lay on the ground during Origin I in 2021. The following year, Martin vowed to target Munster’s injured ribs.
Munster then told the media on the eve of last year’s NRL grand final that he never really liked Martin – only to later apologise when Munster’s mother got involved – before the pair locked horns again in round three when the Panthers and Storm clashed.
On that occasion, Martin did not like Munster’s attempted hip-drop tackle on him, while Munster claimed Martin had called him a “liability” throughout the game.
“I never called him a liability – I called [Storm teammate] Jack Howarth a liability, and Munster must have thought it was him,” Martin said.
Cameron Munster and Liam Martin go at it – again – in round three.Credit: NRL
“I don’t know if it was a [Munster] hip-drop, but I got my ankles caught up, and it gave me the shits a bit. So I thought, stuff this, I’ll get into him. It brought out another battle.
“Every game we play, the play will be gone, but he’ll be there yapping in my ear, just following me along.
“I can’t even remember what he said to me in Melbourne. You just have to grab him.
“We always have those little match-ups. I’m sure there will be a few more next week.”
NSW legend Paul Gallen noted at Monday night’s True Blues’ dinner how much he would have loved to have played with Martin because of his competitiveness and old-school approach.
“He’s a beast, I love him,” Gallen said. “I thought it was a piss take [the Munster rivalry], but apparently it’s not. I hope he gives it to him.”
Martin said Munster “brings out the best in me”, and apologised for the throwaway comments at the start of grand final week last year, before they hammed it up for photos with this masthead later in the week.
“I don’t have any messages for him this week – I’ll tell him out on the field next Wednesday,” Martin said.
Cameron Munster and Liam Martin clash over the years.Credit: NRL Imagery
When Martin’s face was beamed on the big screen before kick-off during Magic Round in Brisbane, there were plenty of boos. Martin loves being loathed north of the border, and his hatred for the Maroons was the result of watching them win eight straight series while growing up.
Martin was raised in country Temora, in the NSW Riverina, about half an hour from Junee, the home town of coach Laurie Daley.
“A lot of my mates are from Junee, and Loz knows a lot of their dads,” Martin said. “We would play against the Junee Diesels once or twice a year. They also used to hold the Junee carnival when we were juniors.
“Laurie Daley Oval was never fun to play at; it was covered in bindies half the time.
“I used to hate travelling over there because their teams were grubs – a bit like the Queenslanders.
“They used to give us facials and start little fights. They were good. It would give you the shits. But I enjoyed it.”
