Gould took aim at the Sharks’ maiden premiership win last year claiming the competition was “soft”.

“The 2016 competition ended up being a fairly soft competition,” Gould said. “The Sharks to me were the experienced team, the hard-nosed team that were last man standing.”

And Flanagan did not mince his words after yesterday’s win and took the opportunity to hit out at Gould after annihilating the Panthers at Penrith.  

“I am filthy with Gus saying we won a soft competition,” Flanagan said after the match.

“When the Panthers were playing the Bulldogs at the SFS he was saying, ‘What a great competition’ and, ‘It’s the hardest competition in the world.’ All of a sudden the Panthers get rissoled and it’s the weakest comp in the world. I thought it was poor form."

Sharks players reportedly chanted in the dressing room 'three cheers for Gus' after their convincing victory.

“There’s no premiership, especially in this competition, that is soft. And he knows that. It’s poor form from him to say the team that wins the competition after 26 rounds in the NRL is a soft competition,” Flanagan said.

“We beat Canberra, we beat the Cowboys, we beat Melbourne — c’mon.”