Melbourne legend Cameron Smith says he was "surprised" by Stefano Utoikamanu's unprompted jab for Brisbane players on Monday.
Utoikamanu lit the fuse for NRL grand final week by labelling several Broncos players "stuck up" and declaring he wants to "run over them" in Sydney on Sunday.
The comments were later put to Broncos players who spoke to media in Brisbane.
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"We're stuck up?" Payne Haas laughed.
"I'm not too sure, they are not in our four walls so they can say what they like."
Reece Walsh labelled it "mind games".
Speaking to Nine's Today on Tuesday, club icon Smith admitted it was unusual for a Storm player to speak so publicly about opposition.
"He's lit the fuse hasn't he, for an intriguing start to the match," Smith told Today.
"I can't wait for the first kick off, particularly if the Broncos kick off to the big man, he is going to be coming off the back fence.
"I was a bit surprised because it's very unlike a Storm player, or a player coached by Craig Bellamy. They tend to like to fly under the radar for a big game like this.
"(Bellamy) has probably had a quiet word to Stefano about his comments.
"But it's been said. What Stefano has to do now is back it up with his actions, I think that will be the message from Craig Bellamy… 'you can't let the team down'.
"He will be ready to go. I think he's going to have a big game."
Utoikamanu joined the club at the start of the season following four years at the Wests Tigers, where he collected three wooden spoons.
With a premiership title now in his sights, the 25-year-old was not afraid to fire the first warning shots at the Broncos.
"I'm keen to go out there and run someone over," Utoikamanu said on Monday.
"There are going to be a lot of people I want to run at, a lot of people I don't like on this team."
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Utoikamanu did not hesitate to elaborate further on his dislike for his rivals as he turned his attention to his desired plan to target "stuck up" Broncos players.
"I don't want to name names, there a lot of people I think are a bit stuck up," he said.
"I'm pretty keen just to run out and do a job for our team."
He then called for his teammates to line him up to take the first run of the match.
"That's another strength of my game – running off the kick [off]," he said.
"I'm going to make sure I set up this week to get that first kick of the game.
"This week is just about us and our preparation," Utoikamanu continued.
"If we prepare the best we can and everyone brings their strengths to the game, then we can win the game."
Melbourne hold a better win-loss record against the Broncos, with the club only losing 16 of their 59 matches against the Queensland-based side.
However, the last time the two teams met, the Broncos did come out on top 30-14.
Haas will be one of the many powerful forces that the Broncos will look to unleash on Sunday, but Utoikamanu is not afraid to face his NSW teammate.
"I'm looking forward to that challenge, he's one of the best props in the game, if not the best," he said.
"You've seen his performance on Sunday. He played in the middle, played 80 minutes, and did just about everything to help that team win.
"I'm just looking at what I can do to stop him a little bit and how I can use my game to tire him out a little bit.
"I'm looking forward to that challenge … I think we can get the win here."
