{"id":553910,"date":"2026-03-21T01:00:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T01:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/553910\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T01:00:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T01:00:10","slug":"post-game-social-media-sledge-pours-fuel-on-fire-between-two-nrl-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/553910\/","title":{"rendered":"Post-game social media sledge pours fuel on fire between two NRL stars"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Brisbane Broncos<\/a> have hit the Melbourne Storm<\/a> with a brutal sledge after their exciting comeback clash in enemy territory on Friday night.<\/p>\n

The Broncos posted the full-time score on social media after the grand final rematch, captioned “ALL BITE”.<\/p>\n

It is a direct reference to Reece Walsh<\/a> and Stefano Utoikamanu’s feud, which started after the Storm forward said he would “run over” the Broncos pack and that they are “stuck-up” in the lead-up to the 2025 grand final.<\/p>\n

It escalated when a post-grand final live stream was aired with Walsh giving it back to Utoikamanu, saying, “Stefano’s stuck, we’re f****** up, baby!”, after he led the Broncos to topple the Storm and claim the title.<\/p>\n

The feud was reignited during the week when Utoikamanu reaffirmed his opinions, telling the Courier Mail that he “wasn’t too happy about (the Broncos’ post-grand final comments), but it is what it is.”<\/p>\n

\u201cThey won the game, but you’ve got to put your balls on the line. Say it before the game. Don’t say it after,\u201d Utoikamanu said.<\/p>\n

Walsh responded on his Instagram, “All bark, no bite”.<\/p>\n

The Broncos got the final laugh, posting the bold caption on their official account.<\/p>\n

ALL BITE pic.twitter.com\/WSRXJh3lwm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) March 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Pressure was mounting on the Broncos to bounce back after slumping to a 0-2 start in their title defence season.<\/p>\n

It was exactly what Broncos coach Michael Maguire<\/a> would have wanted to see on Friday night, coming back from a 14-0 deficit at half-time to win 14-18.<\/p>\n

Without skipper Adam Reynolds<\/a>\u00a0steering the ship and Maguire dropping incumbent Australian Kangaroos centre Gehamat Shibasaki<\/a> to the bench, pressure was building on ‘Madge’.<\/p>\n

In his post-match press conference, he revealed that he had used only 15 players, opting to keep his most experienced leaders on the field to guide the Broncos to victory.<\/p>\n

“Because of the players I have and the experience some of the players have had, I just felt that it was the right thing for us to do,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Patty’ (Carrigan) plays 80-minute games. Every now and then I looked to try and bring him off, but tonight was one of those nights where you keep your seniors out there and he performed really well along with Payne and the rest of the group.<\/p>\n

“I’m very proud of my players.”<\/p>\n

Walsh and Utoikamanu’s feud sets up a fiery rivalry between the two NRL<\/a> heavyweights, with fireworks expected when they face each other again in Round 26 on August 27.<\/p>\n