Hands on hearts and on the Steeden - those were the final words last night on the grand final’s two controversies.
Penrith’s fourth consecutive premiership wasn’t overshadowed by a bunker decision to deny Melbourne centre Jack Howarth a try in the 44th minute and Panthers centre Paul Alamoti complaining he had been bitten by Cameron Munster in the 75th.
But they were definitely talking points.
Asked to explain the latter incident, Alamoti told Triple M: “I just felt a bite towards the end. I know he’s not that type of player but rules are rules.”
Munster, who is expected to be involved in the Kangaroos' Pacific Championships campaign, was quick to refute the allegation, telling the same radio network: “Nothing in it. I’ve done a lot of things and I put my hand up when I’m in the wrong. I’m honest with that stuff. I can guarantee you I didn’t bite.
“Unfortunately he made an allegation and the ref said he had to put it on report.
“If someone makes an allegation regardless of what the decision is they have to put it on report. The judiciary will make the decision but I can put my hand on my heart and say I didn’t bite him.”
Storm v Panthers – Grand Final, 2024
Munster was also close enough to form an opinion when Howarth crossed the line before referee Ashley Klein sent it to the bunker as no try. That view was not overturned.
“Yeah it’s disappointing,” the 30-year-old said.
“You have so many cameras in the game and that one changed momentum, you know? It could have changed the game there. I thought it was a try but unfortunately we didn’t get the rub of the green.”
When he was asked if the suspended Nelson Asofa-Solomona would have made a difference, the Queensland star said: “It would have been good to have Nelson but at the end of the day I’m very confident in our squad and it would have been very different with the Jack Howarth try. That would have changed momentum but unfortunately that’s rugby league.
“There’s going to be a winner and there’s going to be a loser.
“We got again next year and I’m very confident with the squad we’ve got we’ll be there again next year.”
For Alamoti, it was a case of expectations exceeded rather than having fallen short. His switch to the wing when Brian To’o came off injured was a triumph for coach Ivan Cleary.
Paul Alamoti Try
“I got a message from the bench saying I’m going to the right wing and it wasn’t really a shock to me because I’d played there a couple of times during the year,” he said on Triple M.
“I just wanted to make sure I did my job for the team on that right wing.
“Twelve months ago I was at a crossroads. I didn’t know what I was going to do. Getting here is pretty special really.
“I came here (to Penrith) to challenge myself against the best of the last five years, day in and day out. I didn’t want to look too far ahead, I just wanted to learn every single day.”
