Paul Gallen's advice for McCaw

Paul Gallen is no stranger to finding himself the subject of tabloid insults. Photo / Getty

Controversial NRL star and boxer Paul Gallen says All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw should wear headline insults from Australian media as "a badge of honour".

Gallen, in Auckland to promote his bout against Warriors forward Bodene Thompson at the Super 8 Fight Night at Sky City on November 3, has grown accustomed to being a target for Australian tabloid newspapers and the regular subject of unsavory headlines.

The 34-year-old has sympathy for McCaw, who earlier this week was labelled "Richetty grub" in a tongue-in-cheek Daily Telegraph story, in the first of several salvos fired by Australian media in the lead-up to Sunday's World Cup final between the All Blacks and Wallabies.

"If I was Richie I'd be wearing that as a badge of honour," said Gallen. "He must be doing something right to be copping stuff like that because people don't generally do that unless you're a thorn in their side."

Gallen's role as New South Wales skipper sees him cast as the villain by Queensland media, in the fierce interstate slanging matches that preclude every State of Origin game.

The vitriol went to another level this season, when Brisbane's Courier Mail published a picture of Gallen beside the headline "At least we're not drug cheats" in an inflammatory back page story.

While he has become used to the personal barbs, Gallen says the insults have more of an effect on his family and friends, which he finds more difficult to accept.

"The Sydney papers don't miss me either, at times," he said. "I've copped it that much, and there's been some pretty heavy things said, but you do get a little bit immune to it.

"To say it doesn't bother me would be a lie. You never want someone talking bad about you, but your loved ones and friends have to put up with that and it's harder for them. That's what makes me upset."

Gallen revealed he had attempted to contact McCaw earlier this year, when he was required to interview anyone he considered to be a leader in the sporting community that might assist his own development.

"I had to do a leadership course last year after a little drama I had with the NRL and I had to interview three people.

"Richie was someone I wanted to interview but it was just too hard to get face to face with him, so I ended up doing Steve Waugh, Anna Meares and Adam Goodes.

"But he was someone I wanted to interview because I've spoken to Laurie Daley a lot about him and he thinks the world of him. He's a bloke I'd like to meet one day that's for sure."

Gallen is not an avid rugby fan but has enjoyed watching the Wallabies progress throughout the World Cup. Predictably, he's backing green and gold in Sunday's tournament final.

"It would be a major disappointment for Kiwis if they don't get the win, whereas Australia, I think everyone's proud that they made it.

"Certainly I'm immensely proud of them and being a staunch Aussie I want to see them win, of course, but it's going to be a good game."