Panthers players defend heated Jarome Luai-Jaeman Salmon post-game altercation
Panthers players have defended the post-match dispute between Jarome Luai and Jaeman Salmon following a shock opening-round loss to Brisbane.
The pair were embroiled in a heated on-pitch altercation following last Friday night’s 13-12 loss, with cameras recording the altercation between the players.
Luai torched banking service over a miscommunication but Salmon fired back and told the NSW Origin playmaker he blamed him for the mix-up.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Penrith full-back Dylan Edwards revealed that these types of incidents happen within the four walls of the West all the time.
MORE: NRL Round 2 confirmed team rosters | Bulldogs boss slams NRL for ‘stupid rules’
“It’s probably one of the first times it’s been caught on camera after the game when the cameras are around. It happens all the time,” he said.
“It’s good to have conflicts like that because it makes everyone accountable and that’s important for a team.
“It’s just rugby league. It’s high octane, emotions run high and people need to be held accountable for where you want to be on the field. I’ve been on the receiving end and have given a few as well.
“You always want to be where you need to be. If you need a spray, you get a spray and I think that’s important for the team.”
Penrith has not won the last two premierships by accident, as her tenacity and competitive nature have knocked the competition out of the park on a number of occasions.
Representative second rower Liam Martin also brushed aside any possible drama, admitting he had caught his fair share of outbursts from Luai.
“I’m on the receiving end of every Jarome training session. I always hear him screaming from across the field,” he said.
“He loves to always penetrate you. He’s very passionate. That’s why we like to play with him. That’s the best part of his game, his passion.
“They are both very passionate, we were very disappointed with the loss. Holding each other accountable is okay. Nothing wrong with that. It would probably be worse if they overlooked it and didn’t talk about it.
“We built that here with our culture. Ivan (Cleary) always talks about it, the hardest part is pulling people up.
“They’ve built a culture here, if someone isn’t doing the right thing for the club, they can pull them up and hold them accountable. Nothing wrong with that.”
The reigning champions will look to recover from their Round 1 defeat when they take on South Sydney on Thursday night.