Gal's attack on Myles justified One to watch: Sam Elkington. Former Blues coach Ricky Stuart has backed Paul Gallen in belting Nate Myles and says he wouldn't be surprised if the Queensland forward cops similar treatment from the Blues in Origin II. Gallen has been painted as a public enemy No.1 in Queensland after punching Myles in Wednesday's State of Origin series opener. "Paul Gallen is the ultimate leader of a football team and he stood up for his team," Stuart said. I know he has been wearing a lot but what he has done is take one for the team. The focus is on him - but I know he has the full backing of the squad. For some time this column has heard about the Blues players' total dislike of Myles as a footballer - not as a bloke - and under Stuart there was always talk of a dirt file of sorts that NSW had compiled on Myles. "He leads with the head, it's as simple as that," Stuart said. If Nate Myles continues to lead with his head and the game doesn't do something about it, which it should, the players will have no choice other than to take matters into their own hands again and they have every right to do that. I have to say that I have huge respect for the way that Nate handled himself. He stood there, got belted and then didn't whinge off the field. That says a lot about Nate as a person. It's why his Queensland players have respect for him. There is no doubt that Gallen's actions were premeditated. "There has been a lot of push and shove between the teams in other years ... this was always going to happen," Greg Bird said. Of course I back what Gallen did. He didn't do anything wrong. Laurie Daley knows Gallen has the support of all his teammates. Gallen has somehow managed to keep his life together and his focus on football despite being under intense scrutiny as one of the Sharks players under the pump because he was with the club during Steve Dank's time at Cronulla in 2011. "Gal is a person of extreme strength and the way he has continued to play and lead at club and state level is a tribute to his character," Stuart said. Gallen had his character questioned by Gorden Tallis, who wanted to know why Gallen went for Myles after he had hit the Queenslander with a swinging arm while he was surrounded by teammates. Does any one remember Tallis demolishing Ben Ross? Campaign continues We told you about the smear campaign Katie Lewis has been forced to endure since her allegations against Ben Te'o. Last week there was an attempt to discredit her in a television interview with a friend of her ex-boyfriend's flatmate (the ex-boyfriend declined the opportunity to take part) and it also included an interview with her old flatmate, Monique Martino. Martino said Lewis had no idea how she was injured. "When I saw that it really made me quite upset," Lewis said. I can understand my stance has upset some people but what she said was just plain untrue. Monique came to see me when I was in hospital and she was there when I first spoke to the police and gave a recorded statement to the police. In that statement I clearly said that I was punched in the face and she was right there when I said it. I did not know the name of the person - that is a fact - but I did give the police a description of the person who I later identified as Ben Te'o. The police continue their investigation and have spoken with the three players - Te'o, Brisbane fullback Corey Norman and Newcastle international Darius Boyd- Lewis and her ex-boyfriend. They are sure to want to speak with Lewis again as she was the first person interviewed. South Sydney are continuing to stand by their player - they are of the firm belief the process will clear him of wrongdoing. Sam a chip off the old block Keep an eye out for the name Sam Elkington - he's certainly one to watch. The son of 1995 US PGA Championship winner Steve Elkington recently played the Augusta National course for the first time and shot 74 off the stick. Not bad at all. Seen here posing with his old man at the famous course, Sam pocketed three birdies along the way. Reni OK with Ricky Reni Maitua wants a few things to be cleared up about his decision not to play for Parramatta against the Roosters on Friday night and his relationship with coach Ricky Stuart. Maitua has been "the face" of the Eels purge - as co-captain he expected that to be the case. But what has annoyed Maitua is that it has been reported he pulled out of Friday night's game as a protest against Stuart's decision. "I needed to step away from the game this weekend to make a decision on my life - whether or not to play on beyond this season," he said. My life decisions are more important than a game and to Ricky's credit he understands that and respects that. He gave me the option of whether I want to play. I think it would not be fair on my teammates if I played and was not focused. Maitua does not understand where the line about the protest originates. "There are no dramas between me and the club," he said. I know that this happens in footy - people know that it's a business. I accept the situation and I have to deal with it. Swim and sink After sponsor Energy Australia dumped swimming, the word is that rights holder Channel Ten is also set to scale back its involvement in the sport. Ten is not likely to broadcast the world championships from Barcelona - a sign the sport is becoming increasingly invisible. It used to be a prime-time vehicle that rated well a few years back. Soward not to blame Jamie Soward is accustomed to wearing flak but to blame him for St George Illawarra's demise is a bit rich. A huge part of the Dragons' problems relates to their recruitment - and the fact they have been forced to pay for the retirements of Ben Hornby, Dean Young and Mark Gasnier. Taking a $500,000 bite out of a salary cap is going to hurt you on the field. Cricket club gets the Goodes oil Adam Goodes has understandably kept his head down since the racism storm that rocked the AFL and his world last month. However, the Sydney Swans star will honour a commitment to speak, in the name of charity, at the annual dinner of The Cricketers Club of NSW in the Strangers' Dining Room of NSW Parliament House on June 20. The dinner, which raises money for the LBW Trust, will also feature dual international Ellyse Perry. Cost is $135 each. Further details available at lbwtrust.com.au. Gazelle leaps Darren "The Gazelle" Hibbert has been watching his name get trashed as part of ASADA's investigation into the Sharks - and while he is coping with that, he is angry the products he has given to NRL players across the code have been questioned. He put out a statement to say: "All raw materials contained in Advanced Sports Nutrition products are tested for quality and purity and are of the highest grade available. Advanced Sports Nutrition gives a 100 per cent guarantee that its products are made from natural sources and contain no banned substances as interpreted by the WADA code for sports athletes. Hibbert claims the ASN supplements have been used by clubs such as the Sea Eagles for years, including during their 2008 and 2011 premiership wins. Because of the science behind the products, their purity and potency, plus their effectiveness, they have come under the spotlight in regards to being mistaken for performance-enhancing drugs. They are so effective, some uneducated individuals think they are performance-enhancing drugs. But the educated athlete knows better. ASN prides itself on properly educating athletes on the proper use and science behind its products. Estephan's lofty goal He's not aiming to be Usain Bolt, but Sylvania sprinter Mark Estephan is about to head to the United States in an effort to become the world's fastest white man. He dropped me an email to outline his ambition. I am extremely confident that I will return from the States and break the Australian 100m record and go further to become the world's fastest white man. To do so, he'll have to beat the mark of 9.98 seconds set by Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre. He is an unknown in the sport but he says he has the runs on the board. Estephan says in the past two years he has unofficially equalled (on several occasions) Matt Shirvington's personal best, which is the second-fastest time in Australia (10.03sec). The Australian record-holder is Patrick Johnson who ran 9.93s in 2003. I was ready to compete at the highest level leading up to London Olympics [but] I tore my hamstring. This occurred only weeks out of registration and competition while at training. This tear occurred another two times during the rehabilitation as a consequence of my attempt to fast-track my recovery. Since missing London I have privately and patiently been rehabilitating myself and now am almost back to full flight averaging a low- to mid-10 seconds! Now in order to break the records above I need what all athletes desire and require, change, the best trainers and other elite athletes faster than me to lift me to another level. US fitness chain Town Sports International has sponsored Estephan for his trip to New York, where he will train alongside some of the best.