Corey Horsburgh posts savage meme after being punched by Cronulla Sharks player

A new bitter rivalry has erupted between two NRL players, but it seems Corey Horsburgh has the slight edge thanks to some classic high school meme work.

Horsburgh has responded in the best way possible after being punched in the face and called a 'weak-gutted dog' by Cronulla Sharks star Royce Hunt.

During the clash between the Canberra Raiders and Cronulla Sharks, the two forwards became involved in an off-the-ball incident.

Hunt hit the deck after contact from Horsburgh, angering the Sharks enforcer.

Clearly fuming, Hunt went to approach Horsburgh but the two were unable to get their hands on each other after the Canberra star's teammate Jack Wighton intervened and got in the middle.

However, Hunt did managed to lean over and land a jab on Horsburgh's head, a move which earned him 10 minutes in the sin bin.

Speaking after the Sharks' 24-20 defeat, Hunt told the media: "I've never seen a front-rower hide behind a halfback.

"Definitely (looking forward to next game), we'll see if he fronts up.

"You can't just hold me in and push me over and not expect anything. I was a bit upset about that.

"We'll get on with it and bash them next game.

"As Ricky Stuart would say, he's a weak gutted dog.

"We will get them next game. That was a pretty low act."

Hunt is, of course, referring to the time when Raiders coach Rocky Stuart called Penrith Panthers star Jaeman Salmon a "weak-gutted dog".

In the meantime, Horsburgh has responded in the most savage way possible.

Taking to Instagram, he shared an image of himself holding his baby daughter kitted head-to-toe in Canberra Raiders gear.

Interestingly, Horsburgh has photoshopped Hunt's face onto his daughter's head.

"Really happy for my little boy watching Daddy score two tres," the caption read.

The actual post on his Instagram feed has since been deleted, although Horsburgh took a screenshot of it and shared it on his story instead.

Brutal.