St George Illawarra second rower Mickey Paea has played down his on-field bust-up with Paul Gallen and refused to be drawn on whether the Cronulla skipper racially abused him in the Dragons' 26-4 victory at Toyota Stadium.

Television commentators suggested there may have been racial vilification aimed at Paea by Gallen, but the 23-year-old would not confirm or deny the incident took place despite making a complaint to the referee on the field about it.

Paea also said he didn't want any action taken against the Test star.

"It was a bit of push and shove ... it's a tough game, nothing much more than that, I am happy to leave it there, what happens on the field stays on the field," said Paea.

"It's a tough game, heat of the moment, whatever that was said was said and let's leave it at that.

"I don't want another headline, rugby league has had enough bad ones recently."

Paea spoke to Gallen after the incident and said the matter was now over in his opinion and he would not be making a complaint to the NRL.

"I spoke to him on the field, it is sweet, nothing more than that ... it's all good."

Gallen also dismissed the incident after the game as nothing more than push and shove.

"He stepped on my hand and I objected to it, there was a bit of push and shove it was nothing, it was a tough game of footy," he said.

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