Liam Martin responds to swipe from Latrell Mitchell over Panthers furore

Penrith Panthers star Liam Martin has laughed off suggestions from Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell that there are internal problems at the defending NRL premiers. Mitchell stoked the fire before Thursday night's blockbuster showdown between the two clubs, by suggesting the round one altercation between Panthers teammates Jarome Luai and Jaeman Salmon constituted “a few cracks in the windscreen” for Penrith.

The defending premiers started their season with a shock 13-12 home loss to Brisbane that was punctuated by a heated on-field spat between Luai and Salmon after the former questioned why his teammate hadn't pushed up hard enough in a play late in the match. Salmon could be heard telling the five-eighth in response that he was too tired.

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Mitchell didn't miss a chance to needle his rivals when speaking to reporters on Tuesday, suggesting that the altercation was a sign of wider problems at the Penrith club. However, Martin dismissed any such suggestion and brushed it off as a classic case of mind games from his South Sydney rival.

"I didn't care, didn't mind. That's just Latrell. He loves that cheek," Martin said. "I'm sure he's just stirring. We don't really buy into it or mind. We don't listen to too much external noise, we just review it ourselves internally."

Penrith's round one defeat means they have now lost two games in a row by the solitary point, after also being beaten by St Helens in last month's World Club Challenge. Having lost premiership stars Viliame Kikau and Apisai Koroisau in the off-season, the two-time defending premiers can be forgiven for taking time to gel, with Martin insisting the argument between teammates was a testament to Penrith's culture, rather than an indictment on it.

"That's what we've built here with our culture. Ivan (Cleary) always speaks about it - the hardest thing is pulling people up," Martin added. "They've built a culture here when someone's not doing what is right for the club, they can pull them up and hold them accountable.

"I'm on the receiving end every training session from Jarome. I always hear him yelling across. There is nothing wrong with it. It would probably be worse if they glazed over it and didn't speak about it."

Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards also backed the pair, noting the only difference between this and other conversations was that it was caught on camera. "It happens all the time," he said.

"That's just rugby league. It's high octane, emotions are going and people need to be held accountable for where you want to be on the field. I've been on the receiving end and I've given a few too. If you need a spray, then you get a spray. That's important to the team."

Latrell Mitchell 'shoots first, thinks later'

NRL 360 hosts Braith Anasta and Paul Kent said they liked the fact Mitchell had lit the fuse for his side's preliminary final rematch with the Panthers. However, both men questioned the wisdom in providing the Panthers with added motivation for Thursday night's blockbuster.

“I love the fact that he has come out and I like the fact that Latrell just says what he thinks,” Anasta said. “But do you think it could backfire at all?”

Kent said: “He shoots first, thinks later Latrell. I quite like that. Good on him. He is an instinctive player and he is an instinctive thinker.

“He just says what he thinks. He hasn’t thought too much about what questions he might be asked. He probably hasn’t thought about Penrith too much to be honest.

“He is just going on gut feel and that’s where he is at. I think there is legitimate evidence there to back him up. I just think he reacts. I don’t think he plans. I just think he reacts.”

Mitchell was regarded as a slight doubt for Thursday night's match after picking up a knee injury in the round one win over the Sharks. Mitchell sat out the contact session of Rabbitohs training on Tuesday, but veteran hooker Damien Cook insists his superstar teammate will be right come game day.

"He didn't train today with his knee issue, but I think we're just looking after him," Cook said on Tuesday. "He's told me he's playing, and he is a man of his word is Latrell."

Souths will be without star forwards Jai Arrow (hamstring) and Tevita Tataola (concussion) for the heavyweight clash with Penrith. With Hame Sele already missing for the start of the season, Souths have called up Daniel Suluka-Fifita into a starting role at prop, while Jed Cartwright has been added to the bench. Winger Izaac Thompson has also kept his spot on the wing ahead of Taane Milne, who returns after serving his suspension from last season.

with AAP

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