Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen has moved to quell talk of a rift at the NRL ladder-leaders between players Ben Barba and Sosaia Feki.
Reports emerged on Sunday via News Corp that Barba and Feki almost came to blows over a recent argument at the Cronulla Hotel, also involving Barba's pregnant wife.
Speaking on the Nine Network's Sunday Footy Show, Gallen confirmed the incident took place and that Barba had to be calmed down by another Sharks teammate Wade Graham.
However Gallen denied that Barba was sent away to his home town of Mackay for his own welfare.
"He wasn't sent away to Mackay, he left," Gallen said.
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"He had a little argument with one of the boys and let me tell you footy players have arguments all the time.
"There is nothing in it, there are no grudges between the two."
Gallen said the incident hadn't affected morale at the Sharks, who moved to the top of the NRL ladder for the first time in 16 years on Saturday after their eighth successive win.
"Wade Graham took him home, they had a few drinks to the early hours and Benny jumped on a flight and felt he needed a few days in Mackay," Gallen said.
"He did that and came back to training, leading into the Knights game (last week) and he hit the ground running.
"It hasn't affected him and it hasn't affected the club. There wasn't anything done at the club level because there was nothing in it."
