Queensland centre Justin Hodges says Paul Gallen should face tougher punishment than a $10,000 fine for racial vilification and questioned whether he should be allowed to play next Wednesday's State of Origin opener.

Hodges is one of several Maroons with either Indigenous or Pacific Islander heritage and believes the NSW and Australian Test forward has been let off lightly for allegedly racially vilifying St George Illawarra's Mickey Paea last Saturday.

The NRL issued Gallen with a $10,000 fine for his comments and the Blues forward refused to speak to journalists at the NSW open media session in Melbourne on Tuesday.

But Queensland duo Hodges and Petero Civoniceva were quick to condemn their Test teammate.

"There is no need for that in the game," said Hodges.

"I think it should be squashed out of the game altogether. I don't think you need to bring those sort of marks into the game. I think they should be left way outside the game.

"I've never crossed it yet. It's something you want stamped out of the game forever. It's something that doesn't need to happen.

"Maybe he probably might need a tougher penalty than that."

Asked should he be playing in the game's showpiece event, Hodges said: "(From Queensland's point of view,) no. But, in saying that, he is a great player and one of the best players they've got as well so for us it's probably a little bit sad to still see him there," he said.

"But that's alright, we can take care of him."

Civoniceva was racially abused by a fan at Parramatta Stadium last year and says the NRL was right to take action against Gallen.

"It's obviously something that we don't want in our game and I'm happy that they've made a stand on it," said Civoniceva.

Asked if he had a problem playing against someone who made such comments, Civoniceva said: "Yes for sure".

But he also added he didn't believe Gallen should be suspended from playing Origin.

"The NRL have made a decision and fined him and he would have obviously learnt from it and we move on," said Civoniceva.

Like Paea, NSW prop Brent Kite and centre Michael Jennings are both of Tongan heritage, however they have no issue playing alongside Gallen next week.

"That's between Paul Gallen and Mickey Paea. As far as I know, they've sorted it out," said Jennings.

"Once I put this footy jersey on, none of that other stuff matters ... it's got nothing to do with me."

Kite defended Gallen, believing the matter should have been left between the players and the NRL should not have imposed such a heavy fine.

"I think that is a bit harsh," he said of the $10,000 penalty.

"The main person offended, I would've thought, was Mick and if he has asked to move on and forgive, forget or whatever, then I thought everyone else should be able to do the same," said Kite.

"I get on with Gal and I think the main thing is if Mickey and him shook hands after the game and they've buried it, then I'm happy to get on with it too."

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