Channel Nine star Danika Mason has mocked Melbourne Storm hooker Harry Grant on-air following a controversial act on Thursday night.

Channel Nine journalist Danika Mason has accused Harry Grant of diving for a penalty during the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm game on Thursday night during an awkward on-air interaction.

In the dying minutes between two of the game’s best teams, Penrith’s Nathan Cleary slotted a field goal only for it to be overruled for a penalty due to an illegal blocker.

Penrith could have been up 19-18 with three minutes to go, but Moses Leota was penalised for running interference into Grant’s path to defend Cleary.

On Friday morning, the Today Show spoke with Grant after he won Melbourne the game in golden point, scoring under the post to win 22-18.

Mason claimed Grant has “done this before” as he intentionally dived to receive a penalty for his side.

Karl Stefanovic hit back at Danika Mason after she accused Harry Grant of diving for a penalty. Picture: Today Show
Karl Stefanovic hit back at Danika Mason after she accused Harry Grant of diving for a penalty. Picture: Today Show

“He was playing up to it, he’s done it before, we love Harry, but that was a dive,” Mason said.

Karl Stefanovic hit back, asking Mason “are you joking?”

“That’s not a dive, there’s 28 referees on the field, 78 in the bunker, and they didn’t call it a dive,” Stefanovic said.

“They got the right call, but he’s doing these ones (as she threw her hands in the air, swaying backwards in her chair), arms going everywhere. It was definitely a dive,” Mason hit back as she imitated Grant doing a flop.

“People are getting a bit sick of it.”

Mason then doubled down and told Grant: “You’ve got the best acting skills, we might have a few Logies around the office”.

Harry Grant was on the other end of the on-air grilling from Danika Mason. Picture: Today Show
Harry Grant was on the other end of the on-air grilling from Danika Mason. Picture: Today Show

Co-host Sarah Abo stepped in to defend Grant.

“Stop it, Danika, that is so disrespectful. Leave him alone, he won the game for the Storm … Harry, well done.”

While Stefanovic added: “I think it’s disgusting that Danika would call to question your character”.

Meanwhile on Thursday night, Cleary accused Grant of “playing for” the contact when he kicked a disallowed field goal.

Harry Grant won Melbourne the game in golden point, scoring under the post to win 22-18. Picture: Supplied/NRL PHOTOS
Harry Grant won Melbourne the game in golden point, scoring under the post to win 22-18. Picture: Supplied/NRL PHOTOS

Nathan Cleary accused Harry Grant of “playing for” the contact when he kicked a disallowed field goal. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Nathan Cleary accused Harry Grant of “playing for” the contact when he kicked a disallowed field goal. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“I don’t believe that everyone can get behind me on that field goal, and then essentially Harry played for it because he knew he was going to get the penalty,” he said post-match.

“I don’t believe that Moses moved, so it was pretty frustrating.”

Grant unsurprisingly defended himself and went by the rules of the game.

“I think anyone in the game has seen that’s been policed numerous times, and that’s the rule within the game,” he also said post-match.

“A lot of attention will go to that, but it doesn’t need to.

“The attention should go to what a quality contest it was and how well they played. We were underdogs and had a fair few players out, but we turned up, so I really think that (people should focus on the result).”