Liam Martin celebrated a try with a foul-mouthed spray. Here’s what his mum had to say about it

September 14, 2026 — 1:40pm

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.

So we thought we’d call Mrs Martin herself.

“I’m actually having a coffee with Liam now, and I was just talking to him about that incident,” Maxine Martin told this masthead.

“I 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.

“I was more excited to see the gorgeous photos of Liam and his son Joey after the game. I love them both.”

Martin sprayed Roosters centre Billy Smith with some choice expletives when he scored the first four-pointer during Penrith’s 19-12 qualifying final victory on Sunday. There was no history with Smith, Martin said – he just happened to be the first person in his line of sight.

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 – a flashpoint which led to a melee featuring his good mate Spencer Leniu.

“We’re good now. We shook hands so we’re all right,” Martin said of Smith. “There’s no history there. It’s 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.

“When you’re out there, it’s that competitive environment, but at the end of the game you shake hands, and you’re mates again. It’s something I enjoy.”

Pressed on what his mother might say about the bad language, Martin smiled and said: “My missus [Chelsea], my mum, they’ll tell me I was carrying on like an idiot. It was heat of the moment.”

Martin once again proved he is one of the few players in the NRL who consistently stands up in the big games.

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 “surprised myself” with how quickly he was able to get his body into the position to score.

The significance of reaching yet another preliminary final, bringing the luxury of the week off, was not lost on Martin.

“That’s the seventh year in a row [we’ve made a preliminary final], and it’s pretty special,” Martin said. “You never take it for granted. It’s an incredible achievement, but nobody remembers who makes the prelim or wins a prelim. The job isn’t done – there’s plenty we can improve on.”

Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo will be glad of the week off after surviving a second game playing with a ruptured pectoral muscle. He made 22 tackles and did not miss one.

As for teams targeting his injured right side, Yeo said: “I’m in the middle, so you’re always going to be making tackles. I don’t know if I’d be making any more than I would normally. It felt fine; I’m really happy.”