A meeting with NRL officials is this week expected to clear the way for Cronulla captain Paul Gallen to be chosen for Australia in the annual trans-Tasman Test against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium.
Gallen, who missed last year's Four Nations tournament due suspension after being one of 12 Sharks players to plead guilty to unknowingly taking a banned substance during the club's 2011 supplements program, has to satisfy NRL chief executive Dave Smith that he has completed a leadership accountability course designed for him after his offensive tweet in which he accused the league of not doing enough to support the Cronulla players.
The Kangaroos vice-captain was also fined $50,000, of which $15,000 was later suspended, after he responded to the off-season departure of Sharks CEO Steve Noyce by tweeting from Hawaii: "Steve Noice (sic) actually cared about players from cronulla's feelings. Couldn't say that about any other c--- from Nrl".
After finding Gallen guilty of breaching the NRL code of conduct, Smith said that he must successfully undertake a leadership accountability course before being considered for Test selection, and questioned whether he should remain as NSW captain.
While it is understood that Gallen has not yet completed the course, Fairfax Media was told that he would do so this week before meeting with NRL officials.
Since a meeting in November at which he made submissions appealing the tough sanctions, Smith and Gallen have been in regular contact and they fronted a press conference together in Melbourne last month to promote Origin II at the MCG.
"I have seen him a couple of times since then and I have spoken to him on the phone half a dozen times so there is no issue going forward," Gallen told reporters in Melbourne.
"Obviously we had that unfortunate incident last year but I had my opportunity to face him and to give him my point of view. It obviously didn't matter with what I did, I was punished for it and I have just got to get on with it now."
Smith told Fairfax Media he wasn't anticipating any obstacles to Gallen completing the course and being cleared for selection when the Australian team is named next Sunday.
Gallen, who has played 31 Tests for Australia, was extremely reluctant to accept the offer put to Cronulla players last August that effectively resulted in a three-match drugs ban for most of them, as he did not believe he had done anything wrong and wanted to play in the Four Nations tournament.
