David Gallop is the toughest man in league
Roar Rookie
By Liam Howitt, 14 May 2009 Liam Howitt is a Roar Rookie
The debate about who is the toughest man in rugby league triggers passionate debate amongst fans. Names such as Clive Churchill, John Sattler, and Paul Harragon inevitably surface.
One candidate sure to raise a few eyebrows is David Gallop. David Gallop is without question the toughest man in modern day rugby league.
As the rugby league community close ranks after the airing of the ABC’s Four Corners program, the luckless CEO was again forced to face the scrutiny of an unforgiving media.
Since assuming the position of NRL CEO in February 2002, Gallop has presided over the most tumultuous period in the history of the code outside the Super League War of 1997.
His most frequent role has been in front of a camera expressing his disappointment at yet another off-field indiscretion.
Indeed, in his seven years in the position, Gallop has appeared on Australian television screens more times then South Sydney co-owner Russell Crowe. If Gallop were an NRL player, he would have already broken the 200 game barrier.
His is a record of endurance and strength, a career outlasting some of the game’s finest.
His involvement dates back to 1995, meaning he is now in his fifteenth season in rugby league, an admirable record for an administrator.
Gallop has never been afraid to make the tough decisions, which at times have alienated him from figures, both within and outside the game.
He docked the Bulldogs 37 premiership points in his first season in the top job, when it was revealed they were flouting the salary cap. He answered questions about the 2004 sex scandal, has dealt with numerous alcohol related incidents, and, with Brett Stewart, stood down the current face of the game.
Now Gallop faces his toughest decision yet. Should he step down from his position of CEO? He may be controversial and make mistakes, but he is a man of integrity.
He has acted always with the best interests of the game at heart. For his own health and wellbeing he should step down. The gaunt face that appeared on television in the last few days is not the face of a 43 year old.
Like the players who play the code he administers, the game has extracted a heavy price from its highest-ranking official. How much longer can Gallop tolerate the strain that the game is taking on his honour, reputation and intellect?
In the words of Jack Gibson, David, “you’ve played strong, done fine.”
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oikee said | May 14th 2009 @ 7:42am | Report comment
He could walk straight into any job he wanted after having to deal with rugby league. Come to think about what you have said, who would be stupid enough to take on the job.? I have always admired Gallop. Class act.
LeftArmSpinner said | May 14th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
I agree. He has done a great job as a spokesman on a ship that continues to self harm itself. The question for me is why he continues in the job. He is very employable in many other roles.
Were I he, I would be frustrated that no one seems to be learning despite the continual lessons played out in on the front page of the media.
Brett McKay said | May 14th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
I don’t disagree with your assessment Liam, but if Gallop is serious about wanting to clean up the game of behaviour currently regarded as immoral, degrading, etc, he will ensure that the other Cronulla players and staff are also punished. Cronulla would know who they were. If the names don’t come out, then the cover-up just continues, and nothing’s changed. He would also do well to talk to the Broncos again, about last year’s episode.
Colin said | May 14th 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Just found this on SMH, Defiant rep star says group sex romps will keep happening
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/defiant-rep-star-says-group-sex-romps-will-keep-happening/2009/05/13/1241894044999.html
Gruffalo said | May 14th 2009 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Liam
What an absolute load of horseshit.
Gallop is a News Limited lackey. How do you think he got the job – public advertisement for a CEO? No – they got the News Limited lawyer (with no executive/managerial experience) because he’s the expert at spin AND because he would have whose interests at heart? rugby league? – No – News Limited – who now take $10 million per annum out of the game.
Before the NRL sinecure, Gallop was advising News Limited on how best to kill off teams to save News Limited money. he put the knife into the Bears, Rabbitohs, Rams and Reds. Even now, despite an admirable 10 year fight, he still won’t grant the Central Coast Bears an NRL licence. The TV rights deal was an absolute coup for News Limited and saved them a fortune – a fortune that should have gone into rugby league.
As for the sex scandals, this is the sort of stuff the News Limited empire was founded upon. They love it. Who cares about the damage to the game if it sells papers?
Like any politician, he has no accountability and earns twice as much as the prime minister. When he goes, he will replaced by another News Limited lackey who will ensure that News continues to receive its $10 million pound of flesh.
the sooner we rid the game of News Limited and their stooges, like Gallop, the quicker the game can maximise its true potential.
Mark said | May 14th 2009 @ 11:00am | Report comment
Gallop gets told how to run the comp. He has no pull whats so ever. The game is damaged I dont think it will recover. Its a constant barrage of incidents that provoke public discussion and validation of the sport. Its 2009 not 1975. People just don’t put up with this sort of behavior anymore. Its wrong. Think of all the players that have had incidents over the past two years, that we know of, triple it and you would come pretty close to a number that would represent NRL players off field incidents.
Sponsors will not want their name associated with a sport that sees 50% of the population as second class punching bags and sex toys.
Face it, Mums decide what sport their kids play, not Dad.
Bill said | May 14th 2009 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Liam, that’s an interesting piece you have written.
So assuming that Gallop was the NRL CEO at/or around the time of the Cronulla incident in NZ, my question is why didn’t he take action at the time? Did he think it was an issue for (using one of his favourite expressions) “club land” only to deal with?!?! To me his credibility on the player group sex subject has to be questioned.
True Tah said | May 14th 2009 @ 11:28am | Report comment
Liam
as a Bears supporter, I am more inclined to agree with Gruffalo, and its clear that he is going to alienate the Central Coast.
What I find laughable is that you guys are talking him up a business supremo??? You talk about him being involved in RL administration since 1995, lets compare RL in 1995 to today. Sure we might have bigger average crowds today than we did back then, but lets put things in perspective, in that RL’s competitors have grown at a lot faster rate. Both futbol and rugby union improved their act (although in both cases there is still further work to do, moreso for union), and AFL has gone from being on an equal footing with RL to becoming the sporting superpower of Australia.
Back in 1995, RL was all kids talked about as far as sports went, I was one of them, now they probably talk about the English Premier League more than anything else. The Warriors used to get 25-30k crowds week in, week out. Rugby league was the dominant code in Sydney without any doubt.
What has Gallop actually done that has got him such credentials? From what I can work out, all the bloke has done is the head of an organisation which is associated with angry young men acting irresponsibly (although Johns is older than me, so maybe just the term angry men might be more appropriate) and an organisation which is being unable to realise is true value as far as Pay TV dollars go, again to do with his ex-employer. Whilst he has coped a hammering over this, its not like he’s brilliant, in the sense of Demetriou or JON, both of whom are far better sporting administrators than Gallop.
LIam Howitt said | May 14th 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
RE: Bill’s Comment:
Bill that is a valid question and one that does not have a definitive answer. Yes Gallop was CEO at the time, as to why he didn’t act at the time well only one person in the world can answer that and that is David Gallop. He was appointed CEO in February of 2002, the Cronulla incident occurred in pre-season, therefore he had only just in the process of beginning his role. The issue becomes whether he was informed by the Sharks at the time, given the statements on the Four Corners report this is unlikely. Was he advised to not rock the boat so to speak so early in his career, I can’t answer that. Gallop has made mistakes like everyone else, in hindsight he probably wishes he had acted stronger on the Sharks sex scandal. Events since then have shown he is against the player group sex mentality, I don’t believe he should be judged on the 2002 incident, I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt over this one, the preceding NRL administration would have been aware of this ‘culture’ in the game and they should have been pro-active in eradicating it.
LIam Howitt said | May 14th 2009 @ 11:40am | Report comment
RE: True Tah
Your point is well considered both Demitrou and O’Neil are probably more gifted administrators then Gallop. Australian football’s rise is a testament to that and the AFL have an extremely well run game. The purpose of my article is not to glorify Gallop, it is to raise the issue about whether he should consider stepping down. He has faced many trials in his time of CEO and the point remains is how much longer he can sustain these personal attacks.
The Central Coast remains a difficult area for Rugby League, I don’t believe Gallop is trying to intentionally alienate the Coast. I am from the area myself and can remember the whole Northern Eagles fiasco. News Limited and TV dollars do indeed run the game, the current economic crisis has made the issue so much more complicated.
Gallop is in a no-win situation, effectively riding a nuclear bomb. He can’t win either way, this is why he should seriously consider stepping down.