Is Cam Munster set to take Reed Mahoney’s mantle as the Dally M Serial Pest of the Year in 2026?

Mahoney was a runaway winner of the award last season, annoying and niggling opponents off their game on a weekly basis.

But Munster has got off to a flying start this campaign, waging a one-man war against the Panthers – and specifically their fiery back-rower Liam Martin – in Thursday night’s thriller in Melbourne.

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He was placed on report for a hip drop that enraged Martin in just one of several flare-ups between the pair.

The pair had a running battle all night and finally referee Adam Gee lost patience in the final minute, penalising Munster for what he termed ‘ill discipline’.

It could have cost the Storm – but they hung on for a 30-24 win.

The Storm star admitted afterwards that he went out there to put Martin off his game.

“We obviously have a bit of niggle here and there, but I was just trying to get the wood over him a couple of times … It’s all fun and games,” he said.

Munster wasn’t all niggle though – he had three try assists and finished man of the match in most critics’ eyes.

BRONCOS SUPERSTAR ‘A FRUSTRATED YOUNG MAN’

Reece Walsh is one of the most talented players in the league, but has seemingly lost all confidence at the start of 2025.

After making four errors last week in the loss to the Raiders, he had an absolute shocker in the 26-16 win over the Cowboys.

Walsh seems to be trying too hard to make things happen – he made five errors, gave away two penalties, was placed on report and put a kick out on the full.

In fairness, he did some good things, notably a 40/20 and a try assist, but the negatives far outweighed the positives and his body language was that of a frustrated young man.

In a winning team, it was a worrying performance and someone needs to get inside his head and settle him down… and get him back to playing the confident, fluent football we all know he is capable of.

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

FULLBACK’S BAD TIMING

You’ve got to feel for Sharks fullback Will Kennedy.

In a different era, Kennedy could well be close to being a representative player.

Fast, elusive, brave and solid in defence, he has all the attributes of a star number one.

But in the modern era, with the likes of Kalyn Ponga, James Tedesco, Reece Walsh, Jahream Bula, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dylan Edwards, Ryan Papenhuyzen and a host of others, Kennedy finds himself well down the fullback pecking order and the word is the Sharks are looking for a marquee fullback to take them to a premiership.

Kennedy was superb in the 27-12 win over Souths on Saturday afternoon, having a hand in a couple of length of the field tries – but will it be enough to keep his bosses happy?

UNLIKELY MATCH WILL LEAVE CIRALDO STOKED

The Bulldogs are off to their best start to a season in 11 years – but it was far from pretty as they out-lasted a determined Eels side 16-8 on Sunday afternoon.

It’s the first time Canterbury have started a season with three straight wins since 2014 – and they had to do it without key men Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau.

While the Bulldogs struggled for long patches of the game, it’s this performance that may well have pleased coach Cameron Ciraldo more than the previous two wins.

The Eels came out desperate for some success and really tested the Canterbury defence.

They applied plenty of pressure but the Bulldogs held firm for a vital win.

BENJI’S STORM CLONES

In the early 2020s, one of the secrets behind the Storm’s success was the superb one-two punch of hookers Brandon Smith and Harry Grant.

Before his move to the Roosters, Smith was among the best dummyhalves in the league and worried teams with his strength and running game.

Then when the opposition began to tire, master coach Craig Bellamy would bring in youngster Grant, who would carve them up with his speed around the rucks.

Benji Marshall obviously remembers how effective it was – because he is using his two hookers Api Koroisau and rookie Tallyn Da Silva in similar fashion.

The pair were outstanding in the win over the Dolphins on Saturday night, both scoring tries and worrying the life out of the Redcliffe defence.

Significantly, both scored the final tries of the first and second halves against fatigued opposition – rival coaches beware!