League: Racial slurs outrage Gidley

Kurt Gidley hopes Andrew Johns (above) will return to help coach the NSW side. Photo / Getty Images

BRISBANE - Torn between two close friends, NSW captain Kurt Gidley has passionately defended Andrew Johns but also thrown his support behind Timana Tahu's dramatic Origin walkout.

Gidley yesterday rejected any suggestion that Johns was racist and backed the shamed ex-Blues assistant coach to return "bigger and better for the game", possibly as early as NSW's Origin III camp.

The Blues captain also admitted he was present at the now infamous NSW bonding session last week when Johns made racial slurs - but did not realise Tahu was offended until his teammate was about to leave camp two days later.

However, Gidley denied the NSW Origin set up had a racist culture, dismissing the suggestion as "outrageous".

Almost a week after Johns' comments were made, Gidley finally gave his version of events on the eve of arguably NSW's most important Origin clash.

Queensland can claim a record fifth straight series win with victory at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

But Gidley used the match-eve press conference to throw his support behind Johns, claiming the fallen idol may return to the Blues fold before game three in Sydney next month.

"Personally yeah for sure [I hope so]) because I love having him around as a person and as a coach because he has so much to offer he game of rugby league," he said.

"Things will settle down maybe after this game.

"I know he is deeply disappointed in himself and what has gone on.

"He will get over it. He will become bigger and better for the game."

Asked if Johns was racist, Gidley said: "He's not.

"I see the things he does in the game and a lot of things people don't see, either giving his boots to charity or his own personal jumpers.

"He's obviously still going to be a great mate of mine."

Gidley felt just as strongly for Tahu, whom he tried to "talk round" when the NSW winger announced he was walking out as a stance against Johns' comments.

"It was a tough one for me, because I am good mates with both of them and to see their friendship broken like it is ... ," Gidley said.

"I respect both of them, and I respect Timana's stance on it.

"[But] I was with Timana the morning he left and I didn't get any sign that he was upset until [coach] Craig [Bellamy] told me and then I went and saw Timana in his room.

"I am probably one who can sit down with Timana and have a chat with him about most stuff, but he had already made up his mind [to leave]."

Gidley said he was at the session where Johns made a racial comment about Queensland indigenous star Greg Inglis but was unsure about other slurs directed at various races which Tahu referred to in a statement on Monday night.

"I was there but I am not sure what I was thinking at the time [when it happened]," he said.

"I didn't hear exactly what went on and what was said. I can't go into details."

But Gidley was visibly riled by suggestions Queensland coach Mal Meninga had been pointing the finger at the NSW camp as racist when he said: "We pick sides basically on who is playing the best - and we talk about the Maroon jersey - as opposed to colours of skin."

Gidley said: "It is definitely not acceptable to make a racial slur - to label NSW, that is ridiculous."

Gidley also put his hand up after being lambasted in the press for not commenting publicly as captain about the Johns controversy earlier.

"In previous camps I have always done the first press conference and the last one - we work on a rotation where senior players are put up each day," he said.

"I suppose you can have a shot at me for that but that is just the process we go through with this camp."

- AAP