The New Zealand rugby league team is scoffing at suggestions from the Australian camp that hooker Issac Luke is a 'grub' following the Kiwis 26-12 loss to the Kangaroos in their Four Nations opener in Warrington.
The South Sydney rake was at the centre of a controversy after he inadvertently injured Kangaroos prop David Shillington on Saturday morning with a dangerous 'cannonball' style tackle.
Shillington fell awkwardly and was forced from the field with a knee injury, prompting coach Tim Sheens to call for the 'grubby' tackling style to be made illegal to protect the players.
However the Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney says the issue is storm in a tea-cup.
The defending champion Kiwis must now win their next two games, against Wales at Wembley this Sunday and against England the following Sunday in Hull, to reach the Four Nations final.