The trash talk started weeks ago during online games of Call of Duty, and this Sunday Ata Hingano and Tuimoala Lolohea finally get the chance to sort it out on the rugby league field.
Former teammates in the Holden Cup, who played together for the Warriors at NRL Telstra Premiership level and for Tonga in the Pacific Test earlier this year, the pair will face each other for the first time when Lolohea's Wests Tigers host Hingano and the Warriors at Leichhardt Oval.
"Me and Tui have been playing online PlayStation together and the whole time I have been giving it to him saying 'you're a target'," Hingano told NRL.com.
"He comes back at me saying he knows what's coming, I tell him 'no you don't'.
"But it will be good to see Tui and go up against him too.
"I played a lot with him through Holden Cup and reserve grade."
Since completing a mid-season move from the Warriors to the Tigers, Lolohea has started to rediscover the type of form which saw him become a Kiwi international in 2015.
In 12 games at his new club the 22-year-old five-eighth has set up five tries and averages 67 metres per match, adding an elusive edge to the joint venture's attack.
Hingano said the game plan implemented by coach Ivan Cleary suits Lolohea's strengths as a player.
"I have seen some of Tui's footy, he is getting more involved with the ball and I know that's what he wants," Hingano said.
"He is a guy who is always wanting to run, which is one of his strengths, so it's good that the Tigers can fit him in like that and get him touching the ball more.
"Coming up against Tui, I will have an upper hand but so will he with me, in terms of knowing how we both play."
The reunion is one Warriors centre David Fusitu'a has also been looking forward to, having been close friends with Lolohea since long before their time together at the Warriors.
Both played their junior footy for the Marist Saints in central Auckland, where Lolohea was an age grade below Fusitu'a, while they attended the same high school as well.
"It will be fun, it's a pity he's playing on the other side to me… I might have to run over to the other side to get a run at Tui," Fusitu'a said.
"It will be a bit weird because I have never played against him, but I am excited and I know he will be revving to have a big game against us.
"The Tigers have been playing really good footy and they will be fired up, it's their last game of the season and it's at Leichhardt Oval."
