![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789371859_905_635402f1698dc5687fb8f98be5c093fe76cbc56f.png\")
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September 14, 2026 \u2014 3:40pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Liam Martin was unsure what his mother would say to him after he was caught on national TV letting loose a stream of foul language after scoring a try for Penrith against the Roosters on Sunday.<\/a><\/p>\n So we thought we\u2019d call Mrs Martin herself.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m actually having a coffee with Liam now, and I was just talking to him about that incident,\u201d Maxine Martin told this masthead.<\/p>\n \u201cI was trying to clarify what he said. He told me he was only saying very nice things to all the Roosters players. I have to believe him.<\/p>\n \u201cI was more excited to see the gorgeous photos of Liam and his son Joey after the game. I love them both.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin sprayed Roosters centre Billy Smith with some choice expletives when he scored the first four-pointer during Penrith\u2019s 19-12 qualifying final victory<\/a> on Sunday. There was no history with Smith, Martin said \u2013 he just happened to be the first person in his line of sight.<\/p>\n The Penrith back-rower was in the faces of several Roosters players including Smith, Naufahu Whyte and Hugo Savala, who was on the end of another spray after he shanked a penalty kick on half-time \u2013 a flashpoint which led to a melee featuring his good mate Spencer Leniu.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re good now. We shook hands so we\u2019re all right,\u201d Martin said of Smith. \u201cThere\u2019s no history there. It\u2019s just a game of footy. I was bringing that fire, I guess. I feel like [the combativeness] is something I can bring to the team.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re out there, it\u2019s that competitive environment, but at the end of the game you shake hands, and you\u2019re mates again. It\u2019s something I enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n Pressed on what his mother might say about the bad language, Martin smiled and said: \u201cMy missus [Chelsea], my mum, they\u2019ll tell me I was carrying on like an idiot. It was heat of the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin once again proved he is one of the few players in the NRL who consistently stands up in the big games.<\/p>\n Few back-rowers would have the athleticism Martin displayed to leap and then plant the ball down for a try off a Nathan Cleary kick. Martin said he had \u201csurprised myself\u201d with how quickly he was able to get his body into the position to score.<\/p>\n The significance of reaching yet another preliminary final, bringing the luxury of the week off, was not lost on Martin.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cThat\u2019s the seventh year in a row [we\u2019ve made a preliminary final], and it\u2019s pretty special,\u201d Martin said. \u201cYou never take it for granted. It\u2019s an incredible achievement, but nobody remembers who makes the prelim or wins a prelim. The job isn\u2019t done \u2013 there\u2019s plenty we can improve on.\u201d<\/p>\n Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo will be glad of the week off after surviving a second game playing with a ruptured pectoral muscle<\/a>. He made 22 tackles and did not miss one.<\/p>\n As for teams targeting his injured right side, Yeo said: \u201cI\u2019m in the middle, so you\u2019re always going to be making tackles. I don\u2019t know if I\u2019d be making any more than I would normally. It felt fine; I\u2019m really happy.\u201d<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Friday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Liam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2433f7f0d286d9288cd287c553af30d3a4f923bb4221d0d0c2c05393481b53c6.gif\")
Liam Martin had some choice words for Roosters\u2019 winger Billy Smith.Nine<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/16c5770a85c0142953eb49d60e9a3bec7578981f.jpeg\")
The Penrith backrower was excellent on Sunday.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Nathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/564be314fe0507560fd4d16300c318d964f71082.jpeg\")
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