A SORDID love triangle is feeding hostilities for tomorrow's grand final between the Manly Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm.
After yesterday reporting that Manly prop Josh Perry has fallen into the eye of the Storm over an "off-field indiscretion", The Daily Telegraph can today reveal the drama surrounds a woman from the Northern Beaches.
The unnamed female had an affair with Perry earlier this season while she was in a long-term relationship with another footballer.
League Central: For the latest on the NRL
Perry's tryst not only ended their relationship - it also enraged several Melbourne stars.
Storm hitman Michael Crocker is known to be particularly close to him, adding a dose of personal motivation to his clash with Perry tomorrow afternoon at ANZ Stadium.
Perry - who joined Manly from Newcastle this season - and the woman are understood to have become involved a year ago.
Her footballer boyfriend, however, did not become aware until midway through this season, immediately ending the relationship.
Gallery: Manly's Josh Perry v Melbourne's Michael Crocker
Perry has since confessed his role in the break-up. After some indifferent form in Newcastle, he has used a private life coach to recapture form and lead the Manly pack to its second straight decider.
But his renewed steel will be tested in full tomorrow, with Melbourne players determined to turn up the heat on behalf of their mate.
The between-the-sheets scandal is expected to add plenty of spice to the traditional "softening-up period".
There is little love between the sides, who also contested last year's decider and have again been the stand-out teams of this year's premiership.
The previous encounter at Brookvale eight weeks ago produced a brawl inside the first three minutes, with Crocker and Manly prop Brent Kite trading blows.
The Sea Eagles are narrow favourites to turn the tables from last year's 34-8 flogging, but the premiers last night received late support from punters and favouritism could be split.
The Storm's outsider status is largely due to last week's suspension of skipper Cameron Smith, which provoked an uncharacteristic outburst from club officials.
NRL boss David Gallop responded by fining Melbourne a record $50,000 for bringing the game into disrepute, and the drama has cast them as villains to most Sydneysiders.
But Crocker insists the Storm "cherish" the negative press. "At times we get the rough end of things, especially the controversial grapple tackle," he said this week.
"We cherish the fact that we are not in the spotlight for good reasons. We like adversity."
"We've done it the hard way. It will make it more gratifying if we come through the other side of that."
Tickets are still available in all categories, with the game not yet an sell-out.
After yesterday reporting that Manly prop Josh Perry has fallen into the eye of the Storm over an "off-field indiscretion", The Daily Telegraph can today reveal the drama surrounds a woman from the Northern Beaches.
The unnamed female had an affair with Perry earlier this season while she was in a long-term relationship with another footballer.
League Central: For the latest on the NRL
Perry's tryst not only ended their relationship - it also enraged several Melbourne stars.
Storm hitman Michael Crocker is known to be particularly close to him, adding a dose of personal motivation to his clash with Perry tomorrow afternoon at ANZ Stadium.
Perry - who joined Manly from Newcastle this season - and the woman are understood to have become involved a year ago.
Her footballer boyfriend, however, did not become aware until midway through this season, immediately ending the relationship.
Gallery: Manly's Josh Perry v Melbourne's Michael Crocker
Perry has since confessed his role in the break-up. After some indifferent form in Newcastle, he has used a private life coach to recapture form and lead the Manly pack to its second straight decider.
But his renewed steel will be tested in full tomorrow, with Melbourne players determined to turn up the heat on behalf of their mate.
The between-the-sheets scandal is expected to add plenty of spice to the traditional "softening-up period".
There is little love between the sides, who also contested last year's decider and have again been the stand-out teams of this year's premiership.
The previous encounter at Brookvale eight weeks ago produced a brawl inside the first three minutes, with Crocker and Manly prop Brent Kite trading blows.
The Sea Eagles are narrow favourites to turn the tables from last year's 34-8 flogging, but the premiers last night received late support from punters and favouritism could be split.
The Storm's outsider status is largely due to last week's suspension of skipper Cameron Smith, which provoked an uncharacteristic outburst from club officials.
NRL boss David Gallop responded by fining Melbourne a record $50,000 for bringing the game into disrepute, and the drama has cast them as villains to most Sydneysiders.
But Crocker insists the Storm "cherish" the negative press. "At times we get the rough end of things, especially the controversial grapple tackle," he said this week.
"We cherish the fact that we are not in the spotlight for good reasons. We like adversity."
"We've done it the hard way. It will make it more gratifying if we come through the other side of that."
Tickets are still available in all categories, with the game not yet an sell-out.
