Paul Gallen dismissed Sonny Bill Williams as "yesterday's hero" after preserving his unbeaten boxing record with a courageous, against-the-odds points decision over MMA legend Mark Hunt.
Over wanting a showdown with Williams after defying his underdog status in an epic encounter, Gallen set his sights on UFC middleweight superstar Robert Whittaker after improving his record to 10 wins and one draw from 11 professional bouts.
Gallen v SBW is what most rugby league fans yearn for, but not Cronulla's only ever premiership-winning captain.
"Sonny Bill's yesterday's hero. Where's he? Where's he?" Gallen said when asked if the sport-hopping Kiwi was in his sights.
"I've said I'll fight him for how many years now. You'll have to go and ask him.
"Why not ask Sonny Bill if he wants to fight me? I'm always the one answering the question. Go and ask Sonny.
"Actually, go and ask Khoder (Nasser, his manager). Khoder speaks for him. Sonny can't talk."
Gallen and Williams going toe to toe in the ring would generate millions on pay-per-view TV.
But so too would Gallen squaring off against Whittaker.
At 29, Whittaker is 10 years Gallen's junior.
"I know how fit he is. I know I won't be fitter than him, I won't be stronger than him," Gallen said.
"Its going to be a challenge. That's what I'm here to do. I'm here to promote boxing and what bigger challenge than Rob Whittaker."
Gallen was quick to call out Whittaker after Wednesday night's triumph in front of 11,820 fans at Bankwest Stadium, saying he was riled by seeing an interview with the UFC hot-shot years ago.
"Someone asked if he'd fight me and he said, 'Yeah, I'd fight him but he wouldn't fight me' and he laughed, like in a way that annoyed me," said the ironman former Sharks and NSW State of Origin captain.
"I felt, 'stuff you, you condescending prick, I'll fight ya.'
"Like I had options for this fight, but Mark was the big name and the big drawcard. He was the biggest name, he was the biggest scalp.
"I've got that one done. If we can come with a deal with Rob Whittaker, we'll sort that one next.
"I won't be taking any less than 50-50."
And he means business.
Anyone who thought Gallen's showdown with 46-year-old Hunt was a boxing gimmick should have been ringside.
The pair traded fierce blows for six epic rounds, with Gallen having to pull out all stops to keep Hunt at bay.
"He hit me in round two. I don't know what with. It rocked me for a second," Gallen said.
"I was rattled, without a doubt.
"But I'm so fit at the moment. I have trained so hard."
