Brisbane is refusing to enter a pre-NRL grand final sledging match with Stefano Utoikamanu after the Melbourne Storm prop described Broncos players as “stuck up”.
Utoikamanu lit the fuse for Sunday’s grand final at Stadium Australia earlier this week when he implied members of Brisbane’s squad were arrogant.
The usually mild-mannered Storm front-rower also said he could not wait to “run over” Broncos players.
It remains unclear who Utoikamanu was referring to with his comments, but the likes of Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam have previously been accused by critics of having a ‘rockstar’ attitude.
Walsh, Mam and Utoikamanu were booed by supporters at grand-final fan day at Sydney’s Circular Quay on Thursday.
Brisbane coach Michael Maguire, who worked with Utoikamanu at Wests Tigers, has made a point of defending his players’ character.
He said Utoikamanu’s comments would largely go unnoticed.
“My players have got their own motivations,” Maguire told reporters.
“They’ve been very dialled in for the last couple of months.
“We’ve really focused a lot more on ourselves and anything that goes on around us.
“I think that’s one of the reasons why we are where we are. I know that the players will do that and will just work hard together.”
Patrick Carrigan holds the ball in two hands during a Broncos’ NRL match.
Patrick Carrigan is returning from suspension for the Broncos. (Getty Images: Ian Hitchcock)
Patrick Carrigan, who has returned to Maguire’s starting side after missing the preliminary-final win over Penrith with suspension, said the Broncos took Utoikamanu’s barb with a grain of salt.
“It doesn’t really bother me, I think it’s always part of life,” he said.
“People say and think about you what they want.
“I just know that I love playing footy with these boys and turning up every day and working hard.
“We know that we’ve got a job to do and that’s about locking into our role and playing our brand of footy.”
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said he was “surprised” by Utoikamanu’s comments as he looks to lead the club to their first premiership in the post-Cameron Smith era.
