Jaeman Salmon became an NRL household name in his trip to Canberra last year - but he has certainly got the last laugh on his return.
The Penrith utility was back at the GIO Stadium on Friday for the first time since Canberra coach Ricky Stuart labelled him a "weak-gutted dog", a slur that earned the mentor a suspension and a $25,000 fine.
Salmon admitted he screamed Stuart's infamous line as he scored the final try in Penrith's 53-12 humiliation of the Raiders, mobbed by teammates as he celebrated the end of a difficult chapter.
But he said he hadn't been aiming to make a specific statement against the Raiders and was responding to noisy fans yelling the abuse at him rather than Stuart.
"I want to perform every week ... (but) tonight I just got a bit more motivation from a couple of loud fans," Salmon said.
"It was just a game, and probably the fans just add more fuel to it.
"I hadn't thought about it since last year when it happened, then hearing it in the crowds makes it come up again, but it's not something I'm worried about."
Asked about Salmon's moment in his post-game presser, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary had a simple response.
"Good karma - that's how I'd describe that," he said.
But for Salmon, who won last year's premiership with the Panthers, contributing to his team in any way he can is more important than personal storylines.
"I'll play wherever for the team, it's a team-first mentality and I'm happy to do whatever," he said.
"If someone goes down in the first minute of the game, I'll slot in, and if not, I'll just find a way to get in there.
"I love playing in this team ... it was just good to come on at the end there and get the last try."
