What’s the Buzz: The truth behind the fallout of premiership-winning Sharks teammates Chad Townsend and Paul Gallen

As he has done throughout first his playing, then media career, Paul Gallen told the truth, revealing how things unravelled between himself and premiership-winning teammate Chad Townsend. PHIL ROTHFIELD reveals all in What’s the Buzz.

(l to R) Chad Townsend, Paul Gallen and Andrew Fifita of the Sharks look on following a try scored by Kevin Naiqama of the Tigers during the round 9 NRL match between the West Tigers and the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (AAP Image/Paul Miller) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

For a footballer who fancies himself as a future media performer, veteran halfback Chad Townsend has much to learn.

That it’s not as simple as having a podcast, a blog, a website, and being all bright and cheerful. You actually need to have an opinion – ­and tell it as you see it.

Details have emerged in recent days of a nasty falling out between Townsend and Channel 9 star Paul Gallen – the 2016 premiership-winning teammates at Cronulla.

Two years ago, Gallen tried to shake hands with Townsend and do a post-match interview. The Cowboys No.7 not only refused to shake hands, but wouldn’t do the interview.

Gallen’s crime was that he’d spoken in a critical manner of the struggling Cowboys when many experts tipped them to collect the wooden spoon.

Townsend was not just dirty on Gallen, he even kept a list of journalists’ names – who had predicted them to run last – on his mobile phone. Talk about behaving like a sook.

Paul Gallen and Chad Townsend of the Sharks react following their loss to the Dragons in the Round 3 of 2017. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Townsend has signed a one-year contract with Sydney Roosters for next season.

There is talk he will then be looking for a media opportunity. It probably won’t be alongside Gallen.

“You have arguments with blokes from over time,” Gallen said on Nine’s 100% Footy.

“It’s part and parcel of life, you don’t always agree with people.

“Me and Chad had an argument a couple of years ago and haven’t spoken too much since. What’s happened has happened.

Chad Townsend and Paul Gallen don’t talk much these days. Picture: AAP Image/Paul Miller

“When I got this job I always maintained I was going to be honest with my opinions on the game.”

Gallen has again been critical of the Roosters signing Townsend.

“I do think it’s a weird signing,” Gallen said.

“They’ve signed a 34-year-old halfback with one year to go when they’ve got guys like Sandon Smith and Sam Walker there.

“When I was asked about it on radio, people said ‘Well, aren’t youse mates?’ and I said we’d fallen out a couple of years ago.

“We’re big boys and we can have an argument and move on. Let’s leave it there.”

Originally published as What’s the Buzz: The truth behind the fallout of premiership-winning Sharks teammates Chad Townsend and Paul Gallen