Blues legend Brad Fittler has backed his stance on the NSW award named after him, saying Paul Gallen understood he would be hit the hardest of Cronulla's banned players.
Gallen on Friday accepted ASADA's backdated ban that prematurely ended his season.
The suspension prompted Fittler to tell The Daily Telegraph the NSW captain should be ineligible to win the State of Origin team's player of the series award.
Fittler, a Blues assistant coach, today told SportsFan's Will Mcloy he had spoken to Gallen since the 33-year-old accepted his stint on the sidelines.
"He always understood that he was going to bear the brunt so it was always going to be the biggest decision for Gal," he said.
"I don't know how comfortable he is with it (the ban) but he's going through a tough time so we're all thinking of him."