Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams have been engaged in a war of words for years over a fight that will probably never eventuate.
Yet that didn’t stop the two league greats from throwing verbal jabs at each other during a panel discussion after the Parramatta-Warriors game on Friday night, which continued off air in a heated discussion captured in previously unseen behind-the-scenes footage.
The two have been going at each other for years, blaming each other for the fact that a contract wasn’t signed for a fight that would threaten pay-per-view records in Australia.
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That frustration spilled over after the game with the pair separated on Nine’s post-game panel chat by Immortal-in-waiting Cameron Smith.
Williams urged Gallen to sign the deal, with the former All Black pushing for a 60-40 split.
It’s understood Gallen is looking for an even 50-50 split but Williams’ people have reportedly baulked at that offer, saying the the Kiwi has more reach with his bigger international profile across two codes.
The frosty atmosphere continued after the show, with the pair clashing off camera. Behind-the-scenes video captures the pair speaking to each other in animated fashion. Gallen then ends the conversation by walking off.
Speaking to SEN Radio, Smith said he was stunned by the clash.
“This was post-game and we were having a great post-game show, having a bit of fun,” Smith said.
“And all of a sudden it went from reviewing the Warriors-Parramatta match to Sonny Bill Williams and Gal talking about why they haven’t got a fight organised yet.
“They were getting stuck into each other. I was in between them, James Bracey was down the end hosting the show, and I had a bit of a chuckle at first but it kept going.
“Then I looked at Bracey and said ‘is this a gee-up?’ But they kept going for 10 minutes.”
Gallen has hinted at retiring from boxing and declared that 2022 will be his last year in the ring. But reading between the lines of his clash with Williams, unfinished business remains.
After a brutal points defeat to Kris Terzievski in May, Gallen said he was going to walk away from the squared circle, however a clash with Maroons great Justin Hodges has been floated for the end of the year.
It’s understood those close to the premiership-winning Sharks skipper are convinced he would make a comeback against Williams if the money was right.
Williams is tipped to announce his next fight in the coming weeks.
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