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I’ve got no beef with Cam Smith, says Paul Gallen

Opposing Origin and NRL Grand Final skippers Paul Gallen and Cameron Smith

Opposing Origin and NRL Grand Final skippers Paul Gallen and Cameron Smith Photo: AAP

Paul Gallen says there is 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.

“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.”

Cronulla captain Paul Gallen: beating Storm would top Origin victory.

Cronulla captain Paul Gallen: beating Storm would top Origin victory.

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

Gallen led the Blues to an epic Origin series win in 2014, breaking eight successive years of Maroons dominance.

But the Sharks skipper said steering Cronulla to a win over Melbourne would top that Origin win.

“It would probably be even more special,” Gallen said.

“Origin is the best arena to play in and after all we went through all those years of defeat that was unreal.

“But a at club level you spend a lot of time with guys and staff more than you do with your only family.

“I think a premiership win would top it, maybe, hopefully I will let you know on Sunday.”

-AAP

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