Grub, schmub.
Finding a highly rated forward who has played for at least a few seasons that someone doesn't think is the biggest "grub" in the game is nearly impossible (Harrison? Scott? Lewis? Matulino? someone must have it in for one of these guys...). You can't play a long time at the top level as a forward without fiery moments and some dangerous/reckless tackles.
Looking just at the Origin standard forwards we have-
NSW
Bird, Gallen, Watmough, Stewart, Ennis, Farah, Williams, all have had suspensions or dubious incidents over the years- only the new guys and Creagh (who is despised for his lack of fire) and maybe Lewis have no reps with anyone for being grubby.
QLD
Thaiday, Civoniceva, Myles, C.Smith, Shillington have recent or long term reputations for incidents. Hannant and Harrison have probably the best reputations of any modern good forwards, but are also seen sometimes as "quiet achievers" who could fire up a bit more.
NZ
JWH, J.Smith, Pritchard, Luke and Blair don't have great reputations. The lesser known or younger McKendry, Glenn, and Bromwich have yet to really build reputations.
Grub is something a player you don't like from a team you don't like is called, and "fiery", "high impact", "competitive" or "intimidating" are the forwards you like. Most the forwards with bad reputations also have very high work levels, so are more likely to have incidents due to fatigue, and higher frequency and higher impact contacts with opponents.
None of these guys have anything on the forwards of the 80s, and a good thing too, or their careers would be over. High shots, bites, gouging, king hits, wild brawls, kicking, stomping, ripping stitches, attacking players on the ground, spear tackles, and all manner of things the game doesn't need were part of every match, and forwards that didn't do those things were usually not respected.
