Reece Walsh has reignited his feud with Stefano Utoikamanu with a pointed Instagram post ahead of the Grand Final rematch between the Storm and the Broncos.

As Broncos players arrived in Melbourne, Walsh posted an image of himself in a black hoodie with the words “All bark no bite” followed by an eyeball emoticon.

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While he did not specifically mention Utoikamanu, it seems likely it was a reference to the Storm star amid comments he made in the lead-up to the game on Friday night.

Utoikamanu doubled down on his controversial comments labelling the Broncos players stuck-up and he wasn’t happy they mocked him in their title celebrations last season.

Utoikamanu infamously called some of the Broncos players “stuck-up” before Brisbane went on to beat the Storm 26-22 in a comeback victory inspired by Reece Walsh in the 2025 decider.

Reece Walsh’s cryptic Instagram post.Source: FOX SPORTS

“There’s going to be a lot of people I want to run at,” Utoikamanu said before the grand final.

“There’s a lot of people I don’t like in this team, and I’m keen to go out there and run someone over.

“I don’t want to name names but, there’s a lot of people I think are a bit stuck-up.”

It gave the Broncos added motivation to beat the Storm and Walsh couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at the Melbourne prop during Brisbane’s raucous celebrations in the sheds after the game.

“Let me say something. Boys, boys, boys. Stefano’s stuck. We’re f***ing up, baby!” Walsh said to loud roars of “Yeah!!!!”

Utoikamanu admitted he wasn’t impressed with the Broncos players mocking him after the game.

“I wasn’t too happy about it (Brisbane’s mocking), but it is what it is,” Utoikamanu told The Courier Mail.

“They won the grand final, they got the ring, so I’m just keen on working through this season and trying to do my best every week to make my team even better.”

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Stefano Utoikamanu is not short on a word for the Broncos.Source: Getty Images

Utoikamanu was asked about his fiery pre-game comments ahead of the rematch at AAMI Park this Friday night, but didn’t back down.

“It is what it is. They won the game, but you’ve got to put your balls on the line. Say it before the game. Don’t say it after,” Utoikamanu said.

Braith Anasta noted how good Utoikamanu is for a quote despite his softly spoken demeanour on and off the field.

“For a quiet guy, he’s got plenty to say,” Anasta said on NRL 360.

The Courier Mail’s Pete Badel, who interviewed Utoikamanu ahead of the Round 3 clash, wants to see more players like him in the lead-up to games.

“How good is he? I love him. We need more Stefano’s in the game,” Badel said.

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However, The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis felt for Storm coach Craig Bellamy, who was not a fan of Utoikamanu firing up the Broncos before the grand final.

“What would Craig Bellamy be doing? He would be sitting there going, come on, we’ve just gone through it in the lead-up to the grand final, Stefano, just bring it down a bit,” Carayannis said.

“But I’m glad they put him up this week. Usually, clubs hide off the back of what we saw in the lead-up to the grand final.

“Maybe they forgot what he said, but a Sydney club would have put him in cotton wool for sure.”

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Carayannis agreed the NRL needs more players willing to light the fuse ahead of games and hoped Utoikamanu would be one of the first players picked for the Blues in Origin this year.

“I love it. It adds spice. It’s great. It’s great theatre for the game, and we need to see more of it,” Carayannis said.

“We need him playing Origin. Imagine what he’s going to say again for NSW up against Queensland?”