McCaw and Gallen: a contrast in styles
Roar Pro By Wally James, 8 Jul 2011 Wally James is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Blackadder, Crusaders, gallen, McCaw, New South Wales, Reds, rugby, Rugby Union, State Of Origin
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Imagine losing a game in front of 50,000 spectators. Imagine then being asked, within minutes, before the sweat has dried on your brow, to pass comment on your loss. Now compare Richie McCaw and Paul Gallen. Two different sports, of course. But that is not really relevant.
The same principle applies in all, not just the rugby codes.
The principle to be gracious in defeat.
In the Reds versus Crusaders match recently, McCaw had just been penalised in the last minute, contentiously, to lose the game. He did not blame the referee for the loss despite the fact it was open to him, rightly or wrongly.
In last night’s Origin, New South Wales lost the game in the first 30 minutes.
What did Gallen do? You guessed it: blame the referee.
What tiny-mindedness. How mean-spirited. McCaw congratulated Queensland on the win. Gallen blamed the referee for his loss.
In the words of a Wallaby coach, “I don’t blame you, son. I blame the selectors.”
Ricky Stuart has form for the same thing, when Australia lost the Rugby League World Cup. He chose Gallen as captain.
Robbie Deans and Todd Blackadder chose McCaw.
I blame Stuart. Gallen should never have been placed in that position. The coach should have recognised him for what he is. A whinger.
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- Blackadder, Crusaders, gallen, McCaw, New South Wales, Reds, rugby, Rugby Union, State Of Origin
July 8th 2011 @ 4:22am
Walshy said | July 8th 2011 @ 4:22am | Report comment
You disgust me
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July 8th 2011 @ 11:11am
jokerman said | July 8th 2011 @ 11:11am | Report comment
I still laugh when I read Walshy’s remarks “You disgust me” So dramatic!!
July 8th 2011 @ 4:23am
Walshy said | July 8th 2011 @ 4:23am | Report comment
Mccaw is and always will be a good player whose great only because he cheats
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July 8th 2011 @ 5:39am
Jerry said | July 8th 2011 @ 5:39am | Report comment
Someone call the waaa-mbulance for Walshy.
July 8th 2011 @ 10:03am
jokerman said | July 8th 2011 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Walsh, you are in the same place as Gallen. Understand it gets you no where. blaming everyone but yourself is giving your power away. Don’t blame yourself iether, just see the truth in the situation and act with it.
And let go of your past…its called baggage. it holds you back, and it become your reality now. I know this. chill.
July 8th 2011 @ 8:48am
PeterK said | July 8th 2011 @ 8:48am | Report comment
What do you expect from a league player?
What was really funny, I read the penalty count was 5-3 to the Blues. So Gallen was complaining about all of 3 penalties, even if all 3 were wrong what a joke.
July 8th 2011 @ 3:08pm
The Bush said | July 8th 2011 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
“What do you expect from a league player?”
Really mate? Grow up…
July 8th 2011 @ 3:23pm
David Heidelberg said | July 8th 2011 @ 3:23pm | Report comment
The final two penalties were appalling, and both resulted in tries. Twice in the last ten minutes NSW made line breaks and were held down for an eternity in the following tackle, with no penalties when a sin bin was warranted.
Even for Archer it was a terrible refereeing performance.
July 8th 2011 @ 3:45pm
The Bush said | July 8th 2011 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
David,
Are you replying to me?
I’m not commenting on the quality of the referring, I’m commenting on this snide comment against League players, as if class is the reserve of Union players only…
July 8th 2011 @ 6:32pm
PeterK said | July 8th 2011 @ 6:32pm | Report comment
the culture of professional league players is appalling.
Of course there are exceptions but by and large that is the sort of reaction that I expect from a losing captain.
Note I am not tarnishing fans / supporters of league just the players culture. Look at their track record on booze and treatment of women, they really dont have much class.
July 8th 2011 @ 7:40pm
JVGO said | July 8th 2011 @ 7:40pm | Report comment
‘The culture of professional league players is appalling..’ Really? What about this professional Rugby team called the All Blacks who had 11 players before the courts in 5 years. So this article states anyway.
http://wwos.ninemsn.com/article.aspx?id=717175
Oh that’s right McCaw actually captains this team. By comparison I can remember maybe 2 Cronulla players being in the court in the last 5 years. Which is the more apalling?
July 8th 2011 @ 8:32pm
thurl said | July 8th 2011 @ 8:32pm | Report comment
I think wre comparing McCaw with Gallem. Not the All Blacks with Cronulla…lol
July 8th 2011 @ 9:54pm
JVGO said | July 8th 2011 @ 9:54pm | Report comment
Yes, but in a largely smug and ill informed fashion i’m afraid.
July 10th 2011 @ 4:40pm
RichT said | July 10th 2011 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
JVGO, I’m not arguing with your point but I’d just llike to point out that the 11 All Blacks probably means current and past All Blacks. In the NZ press, once an All Black, always an All Black. I remember around and before the time of Lauaki’s misdemenours, a few ex-All Blacks (and I’m talking about ones from the 1970s and 1980s) were involved in a high profile fraud cases.
July 8th 2011 @ 5:49pm
dan said | July 8th 2011 @ 5:49pm | Report comment
I support the Maroons but was saying ‘get off him, get off him.’ on some of the Queensland tackles. I was dreading the whistle but it never came (which is all good in my book) QUEENSLAND BABY ! ! !
July 8th 2011 @ 9:31am
kingplaymaker said | July 8th 2011 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Gallen is perhaps one of the most thuggish looking players around..
July 8th 2011 @ 9:35am
Happy Hooker said | July 8th 2011 @ 9:35am | Report comment
I thought the referees had a good game. Few contentious decisions, and nothing directly or indirectly affecting the outcome. NSW just need to have a look at the first 30 minutes to see where they lost it.
July 8th 2011 @ 9:47am
Brendan said | July 8th 2011 @ 9:47am | Report comment
I understand that this is an opinion based website but this just sounds childish!
July 8th 2011 @ 9:50am
kingplaymaker said | July 8th 2011 @ 9:50am | Report comment
It is true that origin at times resembles a brawl in the psychotic wing of a maximum security prison: and how many of the players would you like to run into in a dark alley? Great athletes, but they look like a gang of the roughest thugs.
July 8th 2011 @ 9:53am
Adam said | July 8th 2011 @ 9:53am | Report comment
Gallen was a disgrace. Actually I don’t think that word is strong enough to describe jsut how bad his post game comments were. Comprehensively outplayed for most of the match for all the world to see and it’s the refs fault, despite the favourable penalty count and dodgy 8 point try. The number of blues playes pleadign for the refs to referee them them back into the game was disgusting.
July 8th 2011 @ 9:57am
Lee said | July 8th 2011 @ 9:57am | Report comment
And that the final pass for the Blues second try looked suspiciously forward…
July 8th 2011 @ 10:35am
Adam said | July 8th 2011 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Also the knock on in the first one..
But lest not dwell on their faults.
The sun rose, the birds sand, flowers bloomed, Origin was Maroon and, surveying this, Wally knew all was well in the kingdom.
July 8th 2011 @ 10:51am
Tigranes said | July 8th 2011 @ 10:51am | Report comment
that penalty try should have been worth twice as much
July 8th 2011 @ 10:58am
Adam said | July 8th 2011 @ 10:58am | Report comment
Oh, sook on.
He clearly lifted his knees and slid over the top of him. no adverse contact at all.
Hayne milked it for all it was worth, like Hoppa milking a prostate…..(Now thees a phrase you never thought you would read!)
July 8th 2011 @ 9:56am
jokerman said | July 8th 2011 @ 9:56am | Report comment
Nice views Wally. Totally agree. The more heart, the more the soul comes out, better the result…Quade cooper is even discovering this.
Blame, reaction is from the mind, and you just don’t learn from the experience, the result is probably a deeper ego and the lesson will come around again… and again..and again.
When Mcaw didn’t react, he showed power. A tough challenge, many would react. he stayed with his heart, he acted, which is remaining true to the self, and didn’t react, which is taking on anothers point or place, in this case being perhaps judged unfairly…throughout the game.
By being with his power…he has stored it, life has given him another chance, and this has made him stronger….From this spiritual level, deeper level, I am feeling happy with crucaders position right now.
July 8th 2011 @ 10:46am
clipper said | July 8th 2011 @ 10:46am | Report comment
Wasn’t Gallen involved in a racial outburst a couple of years ago?
McCaw is much more disciplined
No comparison really.