Paul Gallen’s team have drawn up a hit list of seven NRL enforcers who they believe can genuinely test the heavyweight’s claim that he “smashes” every player in the NRL.
Set to throw down against Queenslanders Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant in an Origin Rumble headliner tonight, Gallen then wants to switch focus to a current NRL superstar for his farewell bout in December.
Already, No Limit CEO George Rose has drawn up a list of seven possible contenders which includes some of rugby league’s toughest hombres – Matt Lodge, Junior Paulo, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Josh Aloiai and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
Another possibility is Brisbane’s Tom Flegler, who has been sparring Hodges in preparation for the Gallen showdown.
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Gal says he’d ‘smash’ every NRL player as he bids to lure money-hungry league star
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“But first, Gal has got a job to do tonight,” Rose said.
“And not once, but twice.
“It’s why the interest in this fight has been incredible. We’re sold out, blowing up on social media, people just can’t get enough of seeing Gal get to work in the ring.
“So if he gets the job done against Hodgo and Ben, I’ll get straight to work myself lining up the heaviest hitters in the NRL to test his theory that he smashes any of them.
“Gal said it himself he’s after entertaining fights, so that’s what we’ll be getting”.
So as for that hit list?
“How good would it be to see the G-Train taking on Big Nelson, JWH or Matt Lodge?” Rose continued.
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“Or if Gal is after another Queenslander, it would surely have to be Tino from the Gold Coast Titans.
“I know Gal isn’t the biggest Tino fan after that double-teaming of Matty Burton in the Origin decider.
“Then there’s Josh Aloiai. Or Junior Paulo, who is itching to get back into the ring with Gal and avenge his 2016 loss.
“That would be a cracker because Junior has heavy, heavy hands and the boxing prowess to match him. Tommy Flegler at the Broncos is another who has been getting in the ring of late and even sparred Hodgo.
“But every month I get contacted by players about the possibility of fighting on a No Limit card. So this is going to be fun to try and build over coming weeks.”
Despite having been challenged by some rising stars of the Australian heavyweight scene, Gallen revealed this week that, at age 41, he was only interested now in challenging a fellow cross over fighter like himself.
It comes after not only entering the ring against the likes of Justis Huni, Lucas Browne and UFC legend Mark Hunt, but scoring surprise wins over the latter two.
Asked on Thursday which NRL star he would like to farewell boxing against, Gallen replied: “Whoever they put in front of me.
“I’ve got no issue fighting any current NRL player because there’s not a skerrick of doubt in my mind that I’ll smash every one of them.”
Gal says he’d ‘smash’ every NRL player as he bids to lure money-hungry league star
