The newest 100m freestyle rivalry is alive and well after James Magnussen fired back at criticism from gold medallist-turned coach Ashley Callus following his Queensland Championships win on Monday night.
The two-time world champion won a relatively slow final in 49.23 - well off his personal best of 47.10 - to pip Jack Cartwright (49.33) and Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers (49.60).
Cameron McEvoy (50.10) was sixth while James Roberts (49.85) was fifth with the quintet's battle set to be a highlight leading into April's Commonwealth Games.
Magnussen was satisfied to touch first, especially following mid-week comments from Roberts' coach Callus saying "he hadn't done anything for years".
"You've got your usual suspects, Chalmers and McEvoy, you've got young (Jack) Cartwright, who's coming through, James (Roberts) has made teams but Maggie's not even in the mix at the moment," Callus, who won a sprint relay gold at Sydney's Olympics said.
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Magnussen read those comments and said while they didn't motivate him, they had resonated.
"I think that shows a complete lack of class; I'm never going to stoop to that level," he said.
"Winners focus on winning and losers focus on winners ... it's water off a duck's back because I only take into consideration people's opinion that I respect and that are within my circle."
Magnussen skipped this year's world championships after returning from shoulder surgery and says he is finally mentally and physically recovered ahead of next year's Commonwealth Games.
And he said the rivalry would spur all five men on.
"It should do; whenever I've been racing there's always rivalries ... first it was myself and Eamon (Sullivan), that moved on to myself and Cam and now you throw Kyle in the mix ... it's great for the sport," he said.
Earlier Ariarne Titmus continued her strong meet, taking .48 seconds off the national 400m freestyle record.
The 17-year-old bettered Jessica Ashwood's national mark with a time of 4:02.86 and is hopeful of going below four minutes next year, such has been her progression.
The win followed Sunday's defeat of world and Olympic medallist Emma McKeon over 200m.
Cate Campbell (52.69) won from sister Bronte (53.75) in the women's 100m final, while 400m Olympic champion Mack Horton (3.49:73) pipped young gun Elijah Winnington (3:50: 20) in the men's 400m.
Mitch Larkin (54.03) and Emily Seebohm (59.22) defied their heavy training blocks to prevail in the 100m men's and women's backstroke finals.
Jessica Hansen (1:07.24) comfortably won the 100m breaststroke, while Daniel Cave (1:01.66) touched out Liam Hunter (1:01.70) in the men's equivalent.
