The respective club and state captains had cooled their relationship following the NSW team’s snub of Smith’s Origin speech at Game III in Sydney, when players turned their backs on the Maroons captain as he was collecting the shield for the 10th time in 11 years.

Gallen subsequently called Smith to clear the air but did not hold back when asked what he thought of the Storm ace on Tuesday.

Smith has come under fire after footage surfaced of him appearing to target the injured knee of Canberra’s Jarrod Croker during Melbourne’s 14-12 preliminary final victory.

The incident happened following a try to the Raiders when Croker had his backed turned to Smith.     

“It’s not surprising at all,” Gallen said of the incident on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.

“He is the most ruthless player in the competition and he won’t be changing his ways for this game. That’s just Cam Smith.”

Smith has been viewed by some as a protected species on the football field, escaping the ire of referees for incidents that would not be tolerated if committed by someone else.

Gallen agreed.   

“He gets away with a bit. He does that stuff, but he does it in a way that isn’t obvious," Gallen said. 

“He’s a ruthless competitor who knows how to win. I’d rather be playing with him than against him, put it that way.”