Queensland great Wally Lewis says NSW captain Paul Gallen is Origin's version of Pinocchio

MAROONS legend Wally Lewis says Paul Gallen is Origin's version of Pinocchio after the Blues skipper was accused of conning match officials.

MAROONS legend Wally Lewis says Paul Gallen is Origin's version of Pinocchio after the Blues skipper was yesterday accused of conning officials to justify his vicious attack on Nate Myles.

Origin tensions intensified last night with Queensland selection boss Des Morris claiming Gallen had pre-meditative thoughts and was waiting for an opportunity to punch Myles in the series opener.

Gallen, who was hit with a grade two striking charge after NSW's 14-6 win, defended his actions on-field by telling referees Ashley Klein and Shayne Hayne that Myles "was getting my knee and twisting it every time".

Gallen added that the Maroons enforcer had a history of dirty play, saying: "He's been doing it series after series ... headbutting and twisting."

But a review of Origin I by The Courier-Mail found Myles tackled Gallen just three times on Wednesday night. Of the three tackles, none showed Myles engage in any visible act of twisting Gallen's knee or spoiling tactics.

Lewis, Origin's greatest player, subsequently took aim at Gallen, accusing the NSW captain of misleading officials to deflect scrutiny of his own misconduct.

"When Gallen said that (Myles was guilty of dirty play), I was watching his nose grow like Pinocchio," Lewis said.

WALLY: REF NOT UP TO ORIGIN STANDARD

"It was a joke, it (his nose) was growing at record rates, you can quote me on that.

"For Gallen, to claim he was consistently set upon with twisting, maybe he should check the replay and see he was only a tackled a few times by Myles.

"Either he has a poor memory or he is embellishing his claims.

"Ultimately, what he did was try and take the pressure off himself.

"He was the man in the firing line, the man penalised, the man accused, the man in danger of being sent to the sin-bin and suddenly he turned the heat on Nate and had the referees thinking about Myles.

"It was cunning ploy by Gallen ... but he's kidding."

With an early guilty plea, Gallen will receive a one-match ban, clearing him to lead the Blues in Origin II at Suncorp Stadium on June 26.

Queensland assistant coach Michael Hagan told Triple M radio: "There might be a little bit of a square-up in Game II, I might suggest. I think they (Queensland players) are a little bit cranky that they did ambush us a little bit. We look forward to Game Two and we can repay the favour."

Paul Gallen

MAROONS PLAN REVENGE ON GALLEN

Morris suggested Gallen had plotted to seek retribution against Myles after the Maroons back-rower led with his head in last year's Origin decider, injuring NSW hooker Robbie Farah.

"It was interesting," Morris said of Gallen's volley of punches.

"It seemed like a pre-meditated move, but there's nothing we can do now."