WILL Chambers wasn’t firing the first shot with his “drug cheats” sledge at Paul Gallen and Wade Graham two months back.

The Storm centre, whose halftime quip in the video above lit up a miserable Melbourne afternoon, was simply pouring a bit more petrol on an already healthy blaze.

Like a few things rugby league at the moment, Andrew Fifita started it.

This week in Golden Point: Nathan Peats’ other prophetic tweet, Penrith lockdown another youngster and Gal channels Glenn McGrath.

On one of those Monday nights the Sharks simply live for last March, Fifita put his 120-kilo frame into gear, drove Cameron Smith back 10 metres and then buried the Australian skipper’s head a couple of inches beneath the Shark Park turf.

Told him to get used to it, then did the same to Cooper Cronk soon after.

Whispered a sweet nothing in his ear too, then repeated the dose. Just as Shane Flanagan told him to.

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With Gallen sidelined by a knee injury, Melbourne unbeaten across the first month of 2016 and dropping only one of their last 11 games against the Sharks, Flanagan needed fire, brimstone and whatever else Fifita felt like tossing in the pot.

Scuffles and the obligatory pushing, shoving, fussing and feuding ensued for 80 heated minutes.

But led by their tattooed terror, Cronulla bashed the Storm into mistakes, a 14-6 defeat and a five-month vow to square up.

By round 26 last year the Sharks had honed the sizzling brilliance of Ben Barba, James Maloney and Val Holmes to match the street smarts in their middle.

Melbourne’s pack, still stinging from their touch up in The Shire at the start of the year, returned the favour in a comprehensive 26-6 victory, claiming the minor premiership and reminding Fifita of it every step of the way.

Footy then came to the fore a month on at ANZ Stadium, and Fifita once more was front and centre.

As scripted a villain as you could imagine in Cronulla’s fairytale, Fifita’s astounding talent as much as his aggro proved him best on ground, even if he was brushed for the official title.

When Chambers mouthed off at AAMI Park in the grand final rematch earlier this year, with Gallen firing back a crack at the Storm’s salary cap scandal just as quick, he was simply jabbing a poker into the embers once more.

Ben Ikin, Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover are joined by Manly coach Trent Barrett to discuss the Sea Eagles’ stunning transformation in 2017.

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The ‘other’ prophetic Peats tweet

Nathan Peats’ crystal ball tweet from way back in 2012, and its resurfacing in the lead-up to his Origin debut, was a cracker.

Even though I won't make it and I'm fine with that, I would love and give anything just to play one game of origin for NSW... #bleedblue4eva — Nathan Peats (@nathanpeats9) July 4, 2012

And among one of the rough and tumble rake’s regular Twitter slanging matches with mate Darcy Lussick, came this offering on May 10.

Didn't know manly reserve grade was playing before nrl. I'll get there early to watch ya play — Nathan Peats (@nathanpeats9) May 10, 2017

Lussick did indeed return from his elbow injury via feeder club Blacktown Workers a week later, a day after Manly pumped the Titans 30-10 on the Gold Coast.

That selection call raised eyebrows, given reports during the week that Lussick was on the outer on the Beaches.

Despite being contracted with Manly until the end of 2018, it’s understood Lussick’s management has tested the waters elsewhere in the NRL recently, amid fears of an extended reserve grade stint.

Often toeing that fine line between rampaging and reckless, in his return from injury Lussick went out and belted one of his Norths opponents with a shocking shoulder charge.

Frankly he was lucky to only land himself another two weeks on the sidelines, hardly ideal when you’re wondering where your future lies.

Panthers lock down Corey

Corey Harawira-Naera shapes as a very promising Penrith investment. Source: Getty Images

More good news is on the way out west for Penrith’s retention front, with impressive back-rower Corey Harawira-Naera agreeing to a new deal.

One of the few silver linings to a slow Panthers start to 2017, the Kiwi rookie’s impending re-signing — on what is believed to be a two-year deal — is a handy cherry on top of their recent resurgence.

Harawira-Naera has proven one of the finds of the season with eight line breaks, four tries and an average 103 metres from his first eight NRL games.

Having just turned 22, his eye-catching efforts in a struggling pack had caught the eye of Cronulla, who sounded out the youngster about a move from the foot of the mountains.

But after establishing himself ahead of a number of other second-row options at Penrith, Harawira-Naera is now locked into the longest list of young talent at any of the 16 clubs.

Ooh-ahh Gal

Paul Gallen steaming in from the Paddington end with a Glenn McGrath rib tickler.

Australia’s most-prolific fast bowler loved nothing more than calling out a pre-series whitewash prediction as he went about claiming 563 Test scalps.

More often than not McGrath would then terrorise a linchpin batsman like Brian Lara or Mike Atherton as the baggy green brigade delivered on his forecast.

TEAM SELECTOR: Pick your NSW Blues and Queensland Maroons teams for Origin II

Gallen’s no longer stepping into the Origin arena but he’s still good for the best barb either side of the border, declaring a Bluewash to end the Maroons dominance in as emphatic fashion as possible.

“It’s good watching the NSW side go out and beat Queensland, that’s for sure,” Gallen told Sky Sports’ Big Sports Breakfast on Tuesday morning.

“I think NSW can and will win the series 3-0 to be honest, I just think it’s their time.

“Queensland have had this outstanding roster for so long … even if they get Thurston back [for Game II], he’s going to have had one run in something like 10 or 11 weeks.

“It’s a big ask for him to go out and to turn an Origin side around.”