EXCLUSIVE
Multi-millionaire footballer and professional boxer Paul Gallen has been captured during a wild pub brawl at a seaside resort – and it appears a local patron has gotten the better of him.
The Nine Network NRL commentator was filmed being held by up to four men at a time at the Shoalhaven Heads Hotel on the NSW south coast on Friday evening.
Gallen had gone to the hotel with his radio colleague Mark Levy, who could be heard in the background shouting: ‘Stop it. Enough enough. Bile, stop’ as the men fought to detain the 42-year-old NSW Origin legend and shocked drinkers looked on.
Levy and Gallen work in 2GB’s Continuous Call team during the NRL season and the Cronulla Sharks premiership-winning captain contributes to Nine’s Wide World of Sports.
When Ny Breaking Australia asked Gallen about the incident on Tuesday afternoon, he initially said: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
When told that witnesses had captured footage of the fight, Gallen added, “No worries,” then asked, “What do the witnesses say happened?”
Gallen and Levy arrived together at the pub, also known as The Heads, where the retired footballer played pool in the beer garden and hit the dance floor.
The row involving the married father-of-four, which was recorded on mobile phone cameras, happened around midnight as the pub was preparing to close.
Witnesses claimed the fight started after Gallen lost a pool game and broke a cue stick over a table.
Several sources said Gallen bled from the face after being hit in the nose, which some observers believed was broken.
Ny Breaking Australia understands no one else has been treated for injuries.
Footballer turned multi-million dollar professional boxer Paul Gallen has been busted in a wild pub brawl at a seaside resort – and it appears a local patron has gotten the better of him
The Nine Network NRL commentator was filmed being restrained by up to four men at the Shoalhaven Heads Hotel on the NSW south coast on Friday evening.
Asked if he would comment on how witnesses had described events, Gallen said: “Yeah mate, I won’t comment on it.”
‘If there is footage of it, we’ll see what happens. I have nothing to say.’
In a second video, an employee is shown cleaning the professional boxer’s nose with a cloth as a concerned Levy looks on.
When a man elsewhere in the pub says, “Think he’s crazy,” Gallen turns and rushes toward the voice.
The first video, which lasts 1 minute and 29 seconds, begins with Gallen being held down by three men and apparently throwing punches at one of them.
In the background you can hear a concerned Levy pleading, “Enough. Enough, enough, enough. Stop. Enough. Enough. Bile, stop.”
As a scuffle rages through the hotel, another voice says, “Get out now” before Gallen falls to the ground.
“Hold your buddy,” someone says, amid the sound of breaking glass. Levy seems to say again, “Stop, stop, enough. Bile, enough.”
Gallen had gone to the hotel with his radio colleague Mark Levy, who could be heard in the background shouting: ‘Stop it. Enough. Enough. Gal, stop’
The row involving the married father-of-four, which was recorded on a mobile phone, happened around midnight as the pub was preparing to close.
A patron can be heard saying, “He’s bleeding everywhere” as Gallen stands up. Another voice says, “Go away.”
Two men then push a third man wearing a shirt away from the fight and Levy appears to say, “No more, Gal.” Not anymore. Not anymore. Not anymore. Stop.’
There is no indication that Levy, who regularly fills in for Ray Hadley on his 2GB morning show, did anything wrong, and footage confirms he was trying to stop Gallen causing more trouble.
Levy has been contacted for comment.
Ny Breaking Australia understands Gallen and Levy had been staying in Currarong, a 50-minute drive away, and arrived at the pub on the hotel’s courtesy bus.
Police did not attend the pub following the incident and it is believed Gallen and Levy returned to their accommodation via the same 12-seater transport.
Levy has posted on social media in the past about visiting the pub. The Heads management was contacted for comment.
Gallen (left) and Levy (right) work in 2GB’s Continuous Call team during the NRL season and the Cronulla Sharks premiership-winning captain contributes to Nine’s Wide World of Sports
Ny Breaking Australia understands Gallen and Levy were staying at Currarong, a 50-minute drive from The Heads (above), and arrived on the pub’s courtesy bus
Gallen played 19 seasons in the first grade with the Cronulla Sharks, leading the team 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.
In 2014, Gallen was one of several Cronulla players who admitted unknowingly using a banned peptide in return for a reduced retroactive ban.
Gallen started boxing in 2012 and has won 15 of 18 fights as a heavyweight, including victories over Lucas Browne and Mark Hunt.
Last year he said he made $25 million from the sport.
Gallen 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 has worked at 2GB since 2007, after working as a producer and reporter at Sky Racing for more than six years.