Rugby league legend Paul Gallen has taken an extraordinary shot at Manly forward Josh Aloiai‘s footy ability, as speculation swirls around the prospect of a boxing showdown.
Aloiai confirmed on Triple M radio this week that he had challenged Gallen to a bout in December, while adding, “I’ve been in the boxing gym since I was able to walk” and “I will win the fight”.
Gallen has since told Wide World of Sports he has “no doubt he’s going to be a good boxer” and “there’s a bit of pedigree there”, after hearing about Aloiai’s highly regarded performances as an amateur.
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But the former Cronulla Sharks and NSW Blues captain then shifted the topic of the interview to Aloiai the footballer, ridiculing his ability.
“I look at his rugby league ability and I don’t see a whole lot there, to be honest, so I think whatever he’s doing in his spare time he’s probably doing boxing,” Gallen said.
“He’s not working on the weaknesses in his (rugby league) game. I don’t rate him as a player at all and I think he’s lucky there’s no reserve-grade comp. I’m pretty sure he got dropped this year.
“He says himself he comes from a boxing background and I think he must be still doing a fair bit of boxing… because I don’t see him as that good a player, to be honest… I just don’t think he’s that crash-hot a player… I just don’t think he’s that good at all.”
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Gallen told 2GB’s Wide World of Sports radio in August that he had locked in three bouts to be fought over the next 12 months.
And while the 40-year-old confirmed today that his opponents were yet to be finalised, he revealed a clash with Aloiai was among the options.
Gallen said Aloiai’s camp had reached out to his team regarding a fight “six or seven weeks ago”, as Manly closed in on their finals campaign.
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Gallen said he began to pay closer attention to Aloiai on the field after the call was made to his camp – and he gave the 25-year-old some brutal feedback on his qualifying final performance against Melbourne.
“I’m not going to go into what he can or can’t do. He plays a role, he’s got a role to play within the team,” Gallen said.
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“But after this was earmarked to me, this fight, I watched him pretty closely against the Melbourne Storm in that qualifying final and he was non-existent, really, to be honest.
“I don’t think he rates in the top-20 front-rowers in the game.”
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