Origin Rumble: Watch Justin Hodges grab Paul Gallen by the throat at weigh-in

Justin Hodges exacted some revenge on Paul Gallen before they lock horns after the former NSW Blues captain’s vile “kiss your kids goodnight” sledge. WATCH HERE

Paul Gallen has a $1 million bounty on his head. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty

Paul Gallen has been warned that Justin Hodges hits harder than Australian heavyweight sensation Justis Huni as the Broncos legend vowed to put his NSW Origin rival to “sleep” for all Queenslanders.

Hodges and Ben Hannant will attempt to pull off a mega boxing boilover when the former Queensland Origin duo go toe-to-toe with Gallen in a double header on Thursday night at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.

Hannant is tipped to go in first, before Hodges goes to war with Gallen after a one-hour break.

When Hodges eyeballed Gallen at Wednesday’s weigh-in in Brisbane’s CBD, the Broncos great couldn’t resist one final verbal uppercut, whispering: “I hope you feel tired ... because I’m going to put you to sleep”.

Gallen is red-hot favourite to bash both men over four, two-minute rounds, but Hodges has been emboldened by a build-up that has included 20 rounds of sparring with former Australian heavyweight champion Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu.

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Justin Hodges grabs Paul Gallen at the weigh-in. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

Opelu (14-3-1, 10KO) lost his Australian title in October 2020 to rising golden boy Huni, who then pulverised Gallen (12-2-1, 7KO) last year in a 10-round belting that took away part of the NRL legend’s boxing soul.

But Django walked away from sparring sessions convinced Hodges has more punching power than Huni; enough to defy the odds by dropping Gallen.

“It’s nice to hear Django say that about me,” Hodges said.

“Look, I believe I can beat Gallen with power. That’s my weapon.

“I know people think this is all a big joke, but I’ve taken this seriously and I’m going in there to give Gallen hell.

“I’ve done a lot of sparring with Django. He was an Australian heavyweight champion and to have him in my corner for this fight has been unbelievable.

“Django gave me a few pointers and he has given me the confidence to really let go with my right hand.

“’Gal’ has fitness on his side, but at some stage he has to come in and take a risk and that’s where I can use my reach advantage and hopefully hurt him.

“He is coming to Queensland to knock us out, but we want to send him back home to NSW as a loser.”

True to style, Gallen whipped up the pre-fight melodrama by vowing to “kill” Hannant and telling Hodges “to kiss his kids goodnight” as he pointed to an ambulance.

But for all the trash talk, Gallen, just turned 41, admits he has almost had enough of the fight game.

The latest stunt - promoters No Limit offering Hodges and Hannant a $1 million re-match payment if they win - was further motivation for Gallen to hammer both men ahead of his proposed retirement in December.

Ben Hannant (R) and Paul Gallen face-off. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

“I am filthy on the whole situation,” Gallen said.

“No Limit have done everything they can for these blokes, now they are giving them a $1 million reward if they can beat me and who is it up to to save them getting $1 million? Me.

“I’m not getting paid $1 million for this fight.

“You get mellow in your old age and I don’t enjoy the hype or the build up anymore. I am over being the villain. I understand that’s who I am and what I’ve created, but there comes a point in time where you get over it.

“Don’t mistake that for weakness. I’m prepared to go out and hurt these guys. I’m 10 times fitter than both of them and when they are in the ring alone on Thursday night, there will be nowhere to hide.”

GAL’S VILE ‘KIDS’ THREATS SPARK HEATED CONFRONTATION

Paul Gallen has threatened to “kill” Ben Hannant and warned Justin Hodges to “kiss your kids goodnight” as a bitter war of words almost turned into fisticuffs in an explosive build-up to Thursday night’s boxing double header.

Gallen will subject himself to the ultimate athletic test when NSW Origin legend fights two men - former Queensland duo Hodges and Hannant - one hour apart at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.

And the ‘Origin Rumble’ threatens to be a wild night out if the chaotic scenes at Tuesday’s official press conference are a fair barometer.

Annoyed at the outset at revelations Hodges and Hannant stand to pocket $1 million in a re-match if they beat Gallen at Nissan Arena, the Sharks great blew a gasket when Hodges labelled him NSW’s worst ever Origin captain.

“It’s easy when you run off superstars,” Gallen fired back at Hodges, who continued his goading, adding: “I ran past you a million times”.

The red mist descended upon a furious Gallen.

“Run at me now then. Run at me now then!” Gallen shouted down the microphone.

“Let’s fight now.”

Paul Gallen and Justin Hodges clash during the Origin Rumble press conference. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty

Hodges didn’t need a second invitation, jumping to his feet and walking towards Gallen, who rose from his seat and marched towards the former Broncos captain.

The pair engaged in a brief push-and-shove and would have punched on but for the intervention of promoter Matt Rose, the No Limit Boxing boss, who stepped in to put a lid on the heavyweight powder keg.

An angry Hodges stormed off stage. He later apologised to No Limit bosses, but not before Gallen poured fuel on the fire, pointing to an ambulance in the distance.

“See that ambulance over there, it’s a couple of days early,” Gallen said.

“It’s meant to come on Thursday and you are going home in it.

“Make sure you kiss your kids goodnight before you go to the fight, hopefully you wake up.

“I am going to make you look like a bum on Thursday.”

Gallen also took aim at Hannant’s NRL record, suggesting he was barely a bench player at Origin level, prompting a riposte from the two-time premiership winner.

“That shows the flog he is at times,” Hannant said.

“He doesn’t get it. I’m proud of my career. It’s about putting the team first.

“It’s not about how good you are or how many games you start, you start sounding like a flog.”

Hannant will embark on his second professional fight after his loss to Hodges in June and Gallen pledged to pulverise the Polar Bear.

“You are an idiot. You fought Hodgo and that’s it,” Gallen said.

“You think you’re gonna walk in and even compete?

“I could seriously kill you on Thursday night.”

Hannant and Hodges each have four, two-minute rounds to knock out Gallen, who vowed to deny them a $1 million payday.

“They are not in my league,” he said.

“I would love it to be like an MMA fight where they have to tap the ground when they have had enough being the soft c**** that they are.

“I would love to put them in a mental space where they know they have nowhere to go, they are drowning and I would love for them to quit. I would even love a body shot to show them the cowards that they are.

“I copped Mark Hunt’s shots, so how are these two blokes going to hurt me?

“If I go four rounds in both fights, there is something wrong with me.”

Gallen hit with $1m boxing bounty

Paul Gallen has had a $1 million bounty placed on his head in a stunning financial carrot for Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant ahead of Thursday’s boxing double-header bonanza in Brisbane.

News Corp can reveal Hodges and Hannant agreed terms on a rematch clause that will see the duo pocket $1 million each for a return bout with Gallen, who will have his retirement fight in December.

But there is one catch - Hannant or Hodges must first beat Gallen at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena on Thursday night to clinch a mega $1 million payday for a second showdown with the Sharks legend before Christmas.

It is an extraordinary fiscal incentive for the former Queensland Origin legends, who will take their first step toward becoming instant millionaires when they enter the ring with Gallen in Brisbane’s twin Origin Rumble.

Hodges and Hannant are earning around $100,000 each for this fight, but that figure will increase ten-fold if either man pulls off a boilover and defeats Gallen at Nissan Arena.

Paul Gallen has a $1 million bounty on his head. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty

Gallen pocketed $1.1 million when he fought Australian heavyweight golden boy Justis Huni last year and now Hannant and Hodges have a mouth-watering shot at clinching the biggest singular payday of their careers.

The pair will take on Gallen in four, three-minute rounds at Nissan Arena. Gallen has been ordered to take a one-hour break between bouts and remains in the dark about which opponent he will face first.

It is understood Hannant will be his first opponent before Hodges goes in second for his golden chance at securing a $1 million pay cheque for a December rematch.

The million-dollar deal will go down like a lead balloon with Gallen.

Justin Hodges punches Ben Hannant. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty

The 41-year-old was planning to retire if he lost to Hannant or Hodges - but under the terms of the double-header contract, finalised today, defeat would force him back into the ring for Hannant or Hodges to celebrate a $1 million windfall at Gallen’s swan song fight in December.

Despite admitting he is sick of sparring, Gallen remains confident he will bash Hodges and Hannant this Thursday night and deny the NRL champions a virtual $1 million superannuation cheque.

“It’s not easy to knock someone out, but that’s what I will be trying to do to both of them,” Gallen said.

“At the end of the day, Hodges is a big man and a strong man. But I am going in there to hurt him and Hannant.

“Everyone who wants to fight me gets a payday and they generally get one because of my profile, but I’m in a good headspace and whatever they get paid, it won’t be enough for what I will do to them.

“They (fight promoters No Limit) won’t tell me what’s going on, who I’m fighting first, but I don’t really care now because I will bash both blokes.

“I was concerned about whether there will be a break but I know it’s definitely a one-hour break.

“I’ve now got my head around the whole concept, so that’s OK, I will end their careers on Thursday night.”

Originally published as Origin Rumble: Watch Justin Hodges grab Paul Gallen by the throat at weigh-in