EXCLUSIVE
Police have finally ended their investigation into a pub brawl involving footballer-turned-boxer Paul Gallen, six months after WhatsNew2Day Australia published footage of the wild brawl.
Gallen was filmed being restrained by up to four men at a time during a late-night confrontation on October 28 last year at the Shoalhaven Heads Hotel on the New South Wales south coast.
Police were not called to the hotel at the time, but two days after WhatsNew2Day Australia published the images, they announced an investigation had been launched.
That investigation by officers attached to the South Coast Police District has now been completed and no charges have been filed against anyone.
“The police investigation into an altercation at Shoalhaven Heads on Saturday 28 October 2023 has been completed,” a police spokeswoman said.
Police have completed an investigation into a pub brawl involving Paul Gallen after WhatsNew2Day Australia published footage of the wild brawl. In one video, a staff member wiped Gallen’s face with a cloth before he turned around when a customer made a cheeky comment (above).
When WhatsNew2Day Australia first asked Gallen about the incident four days after it was caught on camera, the former NRL hardman, 42, said: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” .
Hours later, Gallen issued a statement admitting that he had been involved in an “altercation” after being hit first and denying that he had thrown punches “in retaliation.”
The State of Origin legend and Cronulla premiership-winning captain flew from Australia the next day with his wife and four children on a planned overseas holiday.
Gallen, now a Nine NRL television and radio 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 footage of the fight shouting: ‘Stop it. Enough enough. Gal, stop as a group of men struggled to restrain Gallen and shocked drinkers watched.
When WhatsNew2Day Australia first asked Gallen about the incident, the former NRL hardman, 42, said: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He appears in the photo with his wife Anne.
The couple arrived together at the pub where, according to witnesses, the retired footballer played pool in the beer garden and went out onto the dance floor.
There is no suggestion that Gallen or Levy, who regularly fills in for Ray Hadley on his 2GB morning show, did anything wrong.
Multiple sources said Gallen was bleeding from the face after being punched.
One video began with Gallen being held by three men. In the background, a worried Levy could be heard pleading: ‘Enough is enough. Enough, enough, enough. For. Enough. Enough. Girl, stop.
As a fight unfolded in the hotel, another voice said: ‘Leave now’ before Gallen fell to the ground.
One customer was heard saying, “He’s bleeding everywhere” as Gallen stood up. Another voice said, ‘Get out of here.’
Two men then pushed a man wearing a T-shirt away from the melee and Levy appeared to say, “No more, Gal.” No more. No more. No more. Arrest.’
In a second video, a staff member was shown wiping Gallen’s face with a cloth, while Levy watched.
Gallen emerged five days after the fight, showing evidence of injuries, including a mark over his right eye (above).
Hotel management declined to comment on the fight.
In Gallen’s statement after the footage was released, he said: “I was involved in an altercation with guests at the Shoalhaven Heads Hotel last Friday night.”
‘The clients were strangers to me and the group I was with. The video circulating online does not accurately describe the full set of circumstances that included me being hit first.
“Although I did not throw any punches in retaliation, I apologize to the hotel owners and other guests for the incident.”
Five days after the incident, Gallen was seen outside his $4 million home overlooking Gunnamatta Bay in Sydney’s south, showing evidence of injuries, including a gash over his right eye.
The rugby league warhorse also had marks on his forehead and right cheek and abrasions on his left elbow.
Gallen played 19 seasons in first grade with Cronulla and captained the Sharks until the club’s first premiership in 2016.
He appeared 24 times for NSW and captained the team 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 had once labeled “two-headed”, as their number one enemy.
Gallen began boxing in 2012 and 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 shows including the Sunday Footy Show, Sport Sunday and 100% Footy.
Levy, who has been at 2GB since 2007, presents the station’s weekday evening show Wide World of Sports and rugby league show Continuous Call Team on weekends alongside Gallen.