Queensland Maroons great Billy Slater has given an interesting new perspective on Paul Gallen's famous punch that dominated an Origin series and changed the NRL forever.
Just last week Gallen told Phil Gould that Myles had driven him mad with some afters in his tackles and was particularly incensed when he had his knee twisted.
That has consistently been his explanation for targeting Myles with the punch. Gallen also revealed last year in his autobiography that it was a line in the sand moment against grubby acts from Queensland players.
But, giving his own personal take for Wide World of Sports' The Dynasty, Slater put it down to a build-up in frustration at the back end of a long Origin losing streak.
Rather than being the result of a personal grudge, Slater believes Myles was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when the NSW skipper couldn't keep his emotions in check.
"When Paul Gallen put one on Nate Myles, to be honest I think that was a build-up of frustration," Slater told Wide World of Sports' The Dynasty.
"That was game I of 2013, so New South Wales have just lost seven straight series.
"I know Gal says that he just had enough of the niggle from Nate Myles, well if that's the case, everyone's lining up for one on the chin.
"I think it was just a build-up of frustration and poor old Nate couldn't get his head out the road."
It's a fascinating contrast in opinion from someone who saw the tensions boil over from the other side of the field.
Yet, speaking to Gould for Wide World of Sports' The Captain and Coach, Gallen was clear in his version of events that it all stemmed from a personal battle.
"Nate twisted my knee in a tackle, just before Michael Jennings scored a try. I went to Nate and I said, 'If you do that again, I'm gonna punch you in the head'," Gallen said.
"That was in the in-goal. Sammy Thaiday had an argument with me, a bit of back and forth there.
"There was less than a minute to go before half-time and Nate was having a run. So I did give him a little tap in the head and he rolled over and said, 'Is that the best you've got?' and gave me an elbow back.
"As he got up to play the ball, he gave me a big shove and said, 'Is that the best you've got?' and came charging towards me. As he was coming towards me, I just thought exactly that; that I'm gonna get in first, that I'm gonna punch him.
"So that's how it all happened. I punched him and it was on for 30 seconds, and the obviously they were awarded the penalty."
from WWOS http://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/billy-slate-labels-paul-gallens-punch-on-nate-myles-as-an-act-of-frustration/1107adc1-5afa-4b04-9ad4-90ef1e759453
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