Paul Gallen pub brawl: Bombshell update on police investigation into footy legend

EXCLUSIVE

Police have finally concluded their investigation into a pub fight involving footballer and boxer Paul Gallen, six months after Daily Mail Australia published footage of the wild scuffle.

Gallen was filmed being restrained by up to four men at a time during a nighttime confrontation on October 28 last year at the Shoalhaven Heads Hotel on the NSW south coast.

Police were not called to the hotel at the time, but two days after Daily Mail Australia published the footage they announced an investigation had been launched.

That investigation by officers from South Coast Police District has now concluded and no charges have been laid against anyone.

“The police investigation into an altercation at Shoalhaven Heads on Saturday, October 28, 2023 has been completed,” a police spokeswoman said.

When Daily Mail Australia first asked Gallen about the incident, four days after it was captured on a phone camera, the 42-year-old former NRL hardman said: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Hours later, Gallen issued a statement admitting he had been involved in an “altercation” after he was hit first, and denied throwing punches “in retaliation.”

The State of Origin legend and premiership-winning Cronulla captain flew from Australia with his wife and four children the following day for a planned holiday abroad.

Gallen, now a Nine television and radio NRL commentator, had gone to the pub – known locally as The Heads – with his 2GB colleague Mark Levy.

Levy could be heard in the background of the brawl shouting, “Stop it. Enough enough. Gal, stop’ as a group of men struggled to restrain Gallen and shocked drinkers looked on.

When Daily Mail Australia first asked Gallen about the incident, the 42-year-old former NRL hardman said: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He is pictured with his wife Anne

The pair had arrived together at the pub where witnesses said the retired footballer played pool in the beer garden and headed to the dance floor.

There is no suggestion that Gallen or Levy – who regularly fills in for Ray Hadley on his 2GB morning show – have done anything wrong.

Several sources said Gallen was bleeding from his face after being beaten.

One video started with Gallen being held down by three men. In the background, a concerned Levy could be heard pleading, “Enough. Enough, enough, enough. Stop. Enough. Enough. Bile, stop.”

As a scuffle rolled through the hotel, another voice said, “Get out now,” before Gallen fell to the ground.

A patron could be heard saying, “He’s bleeding everywhere” as Gallen stood up. Another voice said, “Go away.”

Two men then pushed a man wearing a shirt away from the fight and Levy appeared to say, “Not anymore, Gal. Not anymore. Not anymore. Not anymore. Stop.’

In a second video, an employee was shown cleaning Gallen’s face with a cloth as Levy watched.

Gallen appeared five days after the brawl showing signs of injuries, including a mark on his right eye (above)

The hotel’s management declined to comment on the brawl.

In Gallen’s statement after the footage was published, he said: ‘I was involved in an altercation with customers at the Shoalhaven Heads Hotel last Friday evening.’

‘The clients were unknown to me and the group I was in. The video circulating online does not accurately reflect the full circumstances under which I was first affected.

“Although I did not strike in retaliation, I apologize to the hotel owners and other customers for the incident.”

Five days after the incident, Gallen was seen outside his $4 million home overlooking Gunnamatta Bay in Sydney’s south showing signs of injuries, including a wound to his right eye.

The rugby league war horse also had marks on his forehead and right cheek and abrasions on his left elbow.

Gallen played 19 seasons in the first grade at Cronulla and led the Sharks to the club’s first premiership in 2016.

He appeared 24 times for NSW and captained the side that won the 2014 State of Origin series, which broke Queensland’s eight-year winning streak.

For much of his interstate playing career, Gallen was regarded by Maroons fans – whom he once called ‘two heads’ – as their worst enemy.

Gallen started boxing in 2012 and has won 15 of 18 fights as a heavyweight, including victories over Lucas Browne and Mark Hunt.

He retired from the NRL in 2018 as the game’s oldest player and has since been employed by Nine on programs including the Sunday Footy Show, Sport Sunday and 100% Footy.

Levy, who has been on 2GB since 2007, hosts the channel’s evening program Wide World of Sports from Monday to Friday and the Rugby League show Continuous Call Team alongside Gallen at weekends.