#3 Paul Gallen
Despite being restricted to just 16 games, the 31 year old Sharks and NSW Captain delivered another stellar season, capped off by winning the 2012 Dally M Lock of the Year. On the back Gallen's tireless shoulders, the Sharks finally found themselves back in the top eight, taking 7th place in the standings. While the Sharkies made a hasty exit, going out in the qualifying finals to the Canberra Raiders, it was finally at least a taste of success for starved Sharks fans. Gallen would once again turn out for Australia, starting in the front row in their 20-12 ANZAC test victory, and add another three Origin appearances for NSW to his resume, though once again failing to secure the series victory. In just 16 games, Gallen would amass 359 runs for 3174 metres and would be third in the NRL in offloads with 50. All up a very strong year for Gallen, but missing games, losing another Origin series and a swift booting from the playoffs would have no doubt left Gallen with a lot of unfinished business on his mind. Adding another feather to his cap however, Gallen would participate in the 2012 Fight for Life charity event, taking on the heavily favoured Chiefs and All Blacks hooker Hika Elliot. To the surprise of many, at least many in the Union fraternity, Big Gal would score an impressive upset victory over the trained martial artist, showing the toughness that he displays in the NRL week after week.
"Oh, shark has fangs"
Gallen of course also has a substantial list of awards to his name in what has been a sparkling career. Spanning 216 NRL games, 22 Tests for Australia and 14 Origin's for New South Wales. Gallen has been the premier backrow forward in Rugby League, and indeed at times front rower, for several years now...
- 2008 RLIF Lock of the Year
- 2010 Harry Sunderland Medal
- 2010 RLW Player of the Year
- 2011 Brad Fittler Medal
- 2011 Dally M Lock of the Year
- 2011 Harry Sunderland Medal
- 2011 Peter Frilingos Memorial Award
- 2011 RLIF Lock of the Year
- 2012 Dally M Lock of the Year
In four out of the past five years, Gallen has been recognized by either RLIF, RLW, or the Dally M's as the Lock of the Year or Player of the Year. He's also the only player in history to receive a rating of 10 from Rugby League Week for a State of Origin game, and in 2012 became only the third player to receive a 10 rating twice in his career after a win against the Cowboys in March.
Probably the best title of any video I've put in the blog so far
There was once a time when Gallen was arguably the most hated man in Rugby League. The reputation of his attitude, dirty play and a pretty vocal mouth to go with it certainly didn't earn him many fans outside of the Shire. He was known as one of the grubbiest players around, and was labelled a "racist" after being fined $10,000 by the NRL for alleged comments he made to Micky Paea in a game, supposedly referring to him as a "black ______" I'll let you fill in the blank. But my how times have changed, today scarce few, no matter who you support, aren't a fan of Gallen's work. He's rebuilt his reputation on toughness and hard work, traits that everyone can appreciate. Even the staunchest of Queensland supporters had to concede that Gallen's miraculous 234 metre 30 tackle 80 minute effort in the front row in Game 2 2011 was the stuff of legend. Gallen has played the full 80 minutes in 118 games, twice for Australia, four times for NSW and 112 times for the Sharks. That someone can play his style of game, do it for 80 minutes, and do that regularly just defies belief. We've seen guys who can regularly pull off big games in terms of metres, we've seen guys who can regularly pull off big games in terms of tackles, but Gallen combines the two like few others have. 200 metres isn't an excuse for him to come up short in the tackle count, he does it all. There's forwards around who can give you an 80 minute effort if required, but not in the fashion that Gallen does. His durability and toughness is unparalleled by anyone in the game today and few in the games history. He has a motor that never stops, he never stops running, he never stops tackling, absorbing so many punishing collisions and continuing to soldier on. It's what makes Gallen such a great captain, there is nobody who sets a better example in terms of all around toughness and work rate than Gallen. That's the foundation of what has changed Gallen from criminal in the public eye to one of the games greatest heroes, a game based on toughness and hard work that demands respect. You can't fault a guy who just pours so much into the game every week.
How could anyone hate this guy?
Cronulla pulled a massive recruitment drive for the 2013 season, bolstering their forward pack with the additions of Luke Lewis and Chris Heighington. While they lose Kiwi hardman Jeremy Smith to Newcastle, the Sharks forward pack remains on paper one of the best in the competition with these new additions. Subsequently, Gallen is set to actually see a reduced role in 2013, something his team had rarely been able to offer in the past. For all of his personal accolades, Gallen's Sharks have won only 44% of the games he has played in over the years. While Gallen was clearly more than capable of carrying the extra burden, it should prove a huge load off his shoulders to be able to have a spell on the sideline knowing players of such class are there to support him. Gallen will now be able to play 60-70 minute games rather than expending himself over 80 minutes regularly. This should see Gallen have a bit more in the tank to pump out while he is on the field, as if he needed that, and should also help Gal manage his body over the next few years as he traverses his 30s and the rigorous NRL, Origin, International seasons that players of his calibre must endure.
Although he has had his moments
Check back in tomorrow for number 2, if you've been following then it should be pretty clear to most who the last two are, but what order will they come out in? and thus it dawns on me that once I reveal number 2, the idea of "revealing" number 1 will effectively be redundant because everyone will know who he is! but by then it will will be NRL eve and nobody will care anyway because we'll be settling in for footy the following night. I'm on Twitter @WellsNorthShore throw me a tweet if you have any comments.
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