The NRL has refused to backdown from Paul Gallen penalty - $50,000 to stand with $15,000 suspended Paul Gallen's $50,000 fine will stand but $15,000 will be suspended. NRL chief executive Dave Smith offered a compassionate compromise in his battle with Paul Gallen on Tuesday, but maintained the Blues skipper was grossly out of line. After meeting with Gallen to discuss the Cronulla captain's $50,000 fine and 2015 Test ban for using offensive language on social media about the NRL, Smith decided to reduce the severity of the sanctions. The $50,000 fine still stands, but $15,000 of it has been suspended for the next 12 months. Gallen will also be eligible for Kangaroos Test selection next year if he completes a leader's accountability course. NSW's Paul Gallen and Robbie Farah celebrate during Game 2 of the 2014 State of Origin series. "The original penalty was appropriate based on the seriousness of the incident and the information before us at the time," Smith said. But, based on the additional information provided to us by Paul in a submission and at a meeting with the NRL, we have decided to suspend part of the fine. Gallen confessed over the weekend he'd sent the offensive tweet while drunk and after being heckled by fans in Hawaii, riled by one particular Queensland supporter on Instagram. It had been revealed Gallen was fighting depression for the past two years and it was clear this was used as an excuse in the appeal as the NRL confirmed "mitigating information" that is to remain private and confidential had been presented to the league. Gallen has been the public face of the ASADA scandal that resulted in the 33-year-old admitting to doping for a reduced three-month ban that expires this month. Cronulla Sharks player Paul Gallen leaves his home in Burraneer. Picture David Moir Source: DailyTelegraph Smith reaffirmed Gallen's comments were inexcusable, but added the game needed to show compassion to the exceptional circumstances some players face today. "This remains one of the biggest financial penalties imposed on an individual player because it involved one of the most senior and influential people in our game," Smith said. We recognise that Paul has been through a lot over the last two years but that does not excuse such a serious breach of the code. We must protect our brand and ensure we set a good example to children and other fans. So we will continue to be vigilant against any behaviour which brings the game into disrepute. But we are also sensitive to player welfare issues and that is why we have modified the penalty in this case. Originally published as NRL's compassionate compromise on Gal