Melbourne Storm part-owner and chairman Matt Tripp has shrugged off Phil Gould's nationally televised claim that Queensland hooker Harry Grant is a "cheat", declaring the club has no intention of seeking a public apology and that Grant himself laughed when he first heard the comments.
Gould made the remarks during a discussion on a Monday night rugby league television panel show, in the lead-up to the State of Origin decider in Brisbane on Wednesday night. The topic centred on Grant's habit of engaging referees frequently — seeking set restarts and penalties — and whether such behaviour crossed a line.
Gould's comments and the Storm's response
The conversation on the panel show turned pointed when former Queensland captain Cameron Smith — himself well known during his playing career for regularly approaching match officials — suggested that keeping referees honest had been part of rugby league since 1908. Gould responded by escalating the rhetoric directly at Grant.
"Let's call it for what it is — Harry is a cheat," Gould said, repeating the word twice during the broadcast.
Tripp was dismissive of the remarks, framing them as a deliberate pre-Origin psychological tactic rather than a genuine critique of Grant's character.
"This is what we've come to expect from 'Gus' [Gould] — we couldn't care less what he's got to say," Tripp said. "This time last year Gus said Harry was Queensland's best player to try and put pressure on him, and unnerve him. Now he's doing the same thing but this time calling him a cheat in the hope he gets under his skin."
Tripp defended his skipper firmly. "It's a really strange thing to say about a player who is one of the fairest in the game. To call him a cheat is pretty ridiculous. It certainly hasn't annoyed Harry."
The Storm chairman described the comments as "water off a duck's back" for Grant, and confirmed no further action would be taken over the matter.
Jai Arrow marries, then heads to Brisbane for Origin celebrations
Away from the Grant controversy, one of the more heartwarming stories surrounding the Origin decider involves former NRL forward Jai Arrow, who married his partner Berina Colakovic on Sunday before flying to Brisbane to attend a Queensland Origin legends luncheon at Suncorp Stadium.
Arrow, 30, had originally planned to marry in Italy in October, but fast-tracked the ceremony due to concerns that his motor neurone disease could affect his ability to say his vows.
At the luncheon, hosted by MC Sam Thaiday, Arrow showed his enduring good humour. When Thaiday spotted fellow guest Corey Oates wearing a light blue shirt — too close to NSW colours for the Queensland crowd — he ordered him to skol a beer. When Arrow took to the stage and Thaiday noticed he too was wearing blue, he delivered the same verdict, telling Arrow: "I don't care what you're battling, mate, you're wearing blue, which means you have to skol, too." The room erupted in laughter.
Arrow said the wave of support he had received — including tribute celebrations across rugby and AFL — had been unexpected and overwhelming. "I honestly don't know what I can do to thank everyone," he said. "I never expected any of this at all."
Origin payments set to rise on back of NRL broadcast deal
There is early speculation that State of Origin match payments could rise from $30,000 to around $50,000 per game, following the NRL's announcement of a $5.3 billion seven-year broadcast deal.
According to NRL records, player payments for Origin matches rose to $12,500 in 2006 and then to $30,000 in 2013. During the COVID pandemic, payments were temporarily reduced to $10,000, with the savings redirected to supplement all player salaries the following year.
There is also talk of the salary cap rising from $12 million next year to as much as $18 million to $20 million the year after, as the financial benefits of the landmark broadcast agreement flow through to the playing group. For fans watching the on-field brilliance at the elite level, those figures suggest the game's top talent is about to be rewarded accordingly.
