LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Kangaroos camp is buzzing with good vibes as the players shift from grand final foes to mates in preparation for their upcoming clash with the Kiwis.
Kangaroos hooker Harry Grant has brushed off any talk of tension between him and the Penrith players in the Australian squad, following their gritty win over Tonga last week.
Grant, who made an impressive 51 tackles in the recent grand final against the Panthers, insists that he and fellow Storm star Xavier Coates have had no beef with Penrith players Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo, and Lindsay Smith during their time in camp.
The situation is reminiscent of Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster's past beef with Penrith's Liam Martin during a previous Kangaroos tour, which seemed to dissipate when they faced each other in the grand final.
Grant emphasized the importance of putting the past behind them and moving forward.
"You have a game that you give everything for and you have to show respect to your opponents.
You can learn from them and observe how they go about their business during the week," Grant said.
"They're all top blokes, humble and hard-working, just like Xavier and I.
There's no animosity between us, just mutual respect on and off the field."