Maroons rugby league great Wally Lewis says Paul Gallen lacks respect after the NSW Origin captain called Queensland supporters “two heads”.
Gallen’s comment prompted an angry response from Lewis, who also said NSW “does not get Origin” but a few more series losses might finally help them grasp Queensland’s passion.
“I don’t think NSW ever did get Origin. If this (run of losses) continues for NSW, they might eventually get it,” Lewis has told The Courier-Mail.
“That (Gallen’s comment) was an indication of a long-held disrespect for Queensland.
“For NSW, it was a waste of f***ing time playing Queensland for decades and then I hear Gallen joking about the two-headed people up north.”
Lewis said it was clear Gallen had been trying to make a painful memory amusing, but it was unbecoming conduct.
“(Queensland coach) Mal Meninga is big on respect. When has a Queensland player in this team put s*** on the Blues and ridiculed them?
“Public humiliation is not a part of this Queensland squad and that’s why they have class. Mal’s men don’t have to resort to ridiculing NSW to enjoy their victories.
“I’d rather be in our position than to be in Gallen’s shoes and have to suffer the embarrassment of eight straight Origin losses.”
Lewis also took aim at the Blues’ selection methodology, particularly the inclusion of debutant halves Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson.
“When did we start choosing blokes in rep sides only because they play alongside their teammate? That seems like a mercy dash to me,” he said.
Gallen made the “two heads” comment last week. It was a light-hearted jibe made in front of NSW Premier Mike Baird and other luminaries after the Blues’ team announcement.
He said walking through Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall and encountering diehard Queensland fans or driving down Caxton Street to the ground could be more intimidating than facing the Maroons at Suncorp Stadium.
nikki stevens
Guest
Gallen commenting on two headed supporters!? I am sure to be mightily offended by this intellectual powerhouse.
JCAT
Roar Rookie
Poor Wally is upset over a joke, grow up Wally I don't know how you can be upset over something stupid as a joke. Do you think NZ players would get upset over a sheep joke? of course not they would probably laugh it off because it is just a stupid joke.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Nuh, I've watched it a number of times, and watched it again just then as you suggested. Myles pushed him, mouthed off and was looking right at him. No sucker punch at all.
Santos
Guest
VOR - I think NSW fans "have come to terms that they have been defeated by better opposition" - what more do you want them say ? But it was absolutely disgraceful for the Queensland players to sing the Queensland song when representing Australia. You can say that Tim Sheens didn't mind and he sang along but that doesn't make to right. It is his job to do whatever he has to to maintain unity within the team. But it wasn't as bad as SOO 1985 Game 3, when Queensland prop Greg Dowling verbally abused Terry Fearnley from the sidelines after a Queensland try. Terry Fearnley was actually the National Coach at the time - was his tirade a form of respect ?
WQ
Guest
I have no doubt there have been periods of dominance in some positions by the Blues, but that's not the point I was making. The big names in Rugby Leagues pinnacle game have been Queenslanders full stop!
WQ
Guest
That's completely understandably given that the only thing you have had to talk about for 8 years is getting your a($e kicked!!
PJC
Guest
Renegade, what QLD player said this NSW sides were a "bunch of duds"? If I heard a player say that I would drop him from the team. The only people that have really written off NSW is, as usual, NSW. I happen to believe NSW has pick a team that could beat QLD, if not close to it. Most Queenslanders like rubbing the success in because it's fun and because you would do the same thing, also because we know it won't last forever. However, every Queenslander, whether they admit it or not, will be nervous come Wednesday night, I already have a sinking feeling in my gut. Is there an ambush coming?
PJC
Guest
Mushi, if that's the case it's my mistake and I apologise to AlanKC.
PJC
Guest
Sideline Comm. Myles was mouthing off about the punch Gallen threw in the tackle. If Myles was going to throw a punch he would have done so as soon as he got up, which was what Gallen was expecting. When Myles didn't retaliate, Gallen got frustrated and threw a punch. Myles mouthed off to Gallen, they both pushed each other. Myles looked away as he prepared to get on with the game, that's when Gallen sucker punched him. Go watch the footage, it's on YouTube.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
This is the difference, all the two heads talk about origin and the greatest names in origin. We NSWelshment love Origin and we love the blues, but we talk about Rugby League and who is the greatest in the whole game.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Rubbish, Myles verbally challenged him. Watch the footage. They were face to face looking at each other, therefore not a king hit.
Renegade
Guest
"The QLD team has been very respectful of their NSW counterparts despite the run of dominance" Yeah so respectful that they called our team a bunch of duds after the team was named.... anyways you two-headed folk keep living in a glass house.
Santos
Guest
WQ - I'm a Queenslander, but you need to respect the fact that the NSW players will always dominate the record books at Club level, playing week-in week-out. NSW will never dominate the record books at Origin Level, simply because they have too many players to choose from and are pressured into picking players on "apparent form". Examples during late 80's and during the NSW Origin Domination - 1990 to 2005: * Kenny, Lamb & Lyons - only one Queensland 5/8 was better at the time (ie Wally Lewis). * Sterling, Mortimer, Hasler & Alexander - NO Queensland halfback was equal at the time. * Daley, Fittler, Barrett - NO Queensland 5/8 was equal at the time. * Stuart, Johns, Toovey, Kimmorley - only one Queensland halfback was equal (ie Alan Langer)
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Still got more than Brent Tate who punches people while they are arms and body pinned to ground defenceless
Jackson Henry
Guest
Yeah, I find that truly amazing. That the player deemed by so many to be the greatest of all time can add basically nothing to an analysis! I 'm not for a moment knocking Wally's ability, as I say, the majority of good judges seem to deem him the #1. It just seems strange that, given his status, he doesn't really provide any great insights when he's in the commentary chair. I actually find Brett Finch's comments more interesting than his!
Gappy
Guest
Argue is one Walls is two Joey is three Freddy is four
Gappy
Guest
Argue is one Walls is two Joey is three Freddy is four
mushi
Guest
Nah Tate didn't do that - it was his mate on the 18th tee
Mac
Guest
It's funny how QLD blast NSW as "rats and filth" and there players lead with the head in tackles and punch blokes in the eye when there being held down (Tate on Bird) but they get so precious when the dose is repeated. Suck it up cane toads we have been for 8 years...
V.O.R.
Guest
Is that all you have? Sydney Centric media beat this up all out of proportion. 1st - Most of the Australians barely knew the words to any Australian victory song that may have existed in the past which incidently was based around the Dragons victory song. 2nd - Darren Lockyer is on record as saying that when he was playing for Australia no-one knew the victory song and on occassion the players were handed out the words on sheets of paper. Point is that it was a failing tradition, unkept. So the argument that a tradition was snubbed is not as black and white as some would like to believe. 3rd - Gallen is on record as saying that there was nothing meant by it on behalf of the QLD reps and that he thought it was a bit strange 4th - A tradition started by Langer and Walters the song in question is not even the traditional QLD team song. The QLD reps have said that the performance of the song after winning for Australia was as a victory song rather than an emphasis on it being a QLD song. Unwise, yes, arrogant, no. One cannot deny that they had become comfortable with singing it. 5th - Sheens sung along. Most on the night saw it as a joint celebration. 6th - After the press picked it up and ran with it Smith rang Gallen to smooth things over..to clear up the above misunderstandings and did not offer an apology. This continually gets bought up as some judge of the QLD teams character. It's clutching at straws by a bunch of NSW fans that can't come to terms with the fact that QLD has dominated State of Origin for the larger part of a decade.