- Unfolded in 2015 ahead of an Origin clash in Melbourne
Former NSW Blues Origin skipper Paul Gallen has admitted the NRL paid him to sledge Queensland’s stars to hype up a series – after the enforcer was fined $30,000 less than a year earlier following an offensive tweet aimed at the governing body.
Gallen, 44, made the admission in an interview on The Bye Round podcast with former hard-nosed Bulldogs prop James Graham.
Rumours have swirled for years that Gallen was approached by the NRL to be the villain in a bid to sell tickets ahead of an Origin match in Melbourne back in 2015.
It followed a $50,000 fine – reduced to $30,000 on appeal – after Gallen labelled NRL officials ‘c**ts’ on X when holidaying in Hawaii in October of 2014.
‘(Former NRL CEO) Dave Smith got in touch ahead of the Melbourne game,’ Gallen recalled.
‘He said to me ‘we need to sell it out’…I told him I don’t make things up, I just say things.
Former NSW Blues Origin skipper Paul Gallen has admitted the NRL paid him to sledge Queensland’s stars to hype up the 2015 series
The enforcer was fined $30,000 less than a year earlier following an offensive tweet aimed at the governing body (Gallen is pictured, with wife Anne)
Gallen was happy to play the Origin villain – he previously stated Queensland’s players and fans had ‘two heads’, and famously fought with Nate Myles during the 2013 series (pictured)
After retiring from footy in 2019, Gallen turned his attention to boxing, becoming a prize-fighter (pictured, in a bout against fellow footy star Justin Hodges)
‘(At the time) Billy Slater had a shoulder injury, (which was season-ending) and he shouldn’t have played in Melbourne. I thought it was disrespectful.’
Gallen also revealed Smith said if the crowd was over 90,000 at the MCG, he would be paid ’50 grand.’
When the crowd was announced as almost 92,000 fans, Gallen was understandably elated.
The premiership-winner at the Cronulla Sharks later admitted he didn’t receive $50,000 from Smith on behalf of the NRL as promised – but his $30,000 fine was wiped.
After retiring from footy in 2019, Gallen turned his attention to boxing, becoming a prize-fighter.
He finished with a record of 15-3-1 with eight wins by knockout, including victories against Mark Hunt, Lucas Browne and cross-code superstar Sonny Bill Williams.
Last year, Gallen admitted he was previously heading down a dangerous path when it came to his alcohol consumption.
‘I had four fights in 2022, so 2023 was a bit of a loose year,’ he said on the Off The Record podcast with journalists Andrew Webster and Phil Rothfield.
‘(Come 2023) I was drinking too much, it wasn’t me.
‘I now understand why some rugby league players struggle when they retire… I had too much free time.’
The final straw for Gallen came when he discovered he was getting used to operating after having too much to drink.
‘I was coping when [I was] working at Channel Nine, and (for me) that was scary,’ he said.
‘In the end, I sought out help and spoke to a woman from Dubai. ‘These days I barely drink…but I definitely will again down the track.’
Daily Mail approached the NRL for comment regarding Gallen’s revelation.
