SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

I never fell out with Smith: Paul Gallen

Paul Gallen says he's had no falling out with long-time Origin foe Cameron Smith ahead of the NRL grand final between Cronulla and Melbourne.

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

Paul Gallen claims there in no bad blood between him and long-time State of Origin foe Cameron Smith, as the interstate skippers face off again in the NRL grand final between Cronulla and Melbourne.

As NSW and Queensland captains, Gallen and Smith have played against each other for the better part of a decade in the interstate arena.

The pair's relationship appeared to hit a low in the aftermath of Queensland's Origin series win this year when the Blues, led by Gallen, were accused of snubbing the Maroons' victory ceremony after game three.

A war of words between the camps escalated in the days after NSW's win in the final game that prevented a Queensland clean sweep.

But ahead of Sunday's grand final between Gallen's Sharks and Smith's Melbourne, Gallen said there was no ill-feeling between the pair.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"I never had a beef with him," Gallen said on Tuesday.

"My feelings never got hurt. I spoke to him on the phone and he didn't seem to have too much of an issue with it.

"We spoke probably three or four days after Origin III and I have no issue with Cameron personally."

Some are billing the grand final as State of Origin IV, but Gallen dismissed that.

"This is not Origin," he said.

"It is club football, it is a grand final. That is all I am worried about."

"Cameron is a great player, but this has nothing to do with Origin.

"I know it has been built up like that but this is club footy, this is the Sharks and the Storm."


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world