If Paul Gallen is ruled out of State of Origin I on June 5 the New South Wales Blues cannot win. That is the consensus of some after the Cronulla Sharks workhorse broke down Sunday afternoon at Hunter Stadium.
Well if that is the case, why even show up on June 5?
Let’s just give the shield to the Queenslanders and give ourselves an early mark.
The fact is Gallen has been broken for quite some time but almost always finds a way to get himself onto the field. He is a different beast and will do anything and everything for his beloved club, state and country.
But media reports suggest the inspirational skipper could make a remarkable return this weekend against the Wests Tigers at Allianz Stadium despite what looked like a crippling injury against the Knights.
It takes something pretty sinister to keep Gallen from walking off the field on his own accord. Yet The Daily Telegraph confirmed that the lock had only strained his medial ligament.
“Gone for a month,” they barked.
“Could be six weeks,” they cried.
“I rang Loz (Blues coach Laurie Daley) to let him know the results of the scans as soon as I got them,” Gallen told reporters.
“He told me he hadn’t even had a sip of his beer while watching the game on Sunday and I was off the field.
“I suppose if you’re going to cop a knee injury, this is the best kind. So he was as pleased as I was when the scans showed there wasn’t any major damage.
“Even though Loz has told me before he wants me as captain of the Blues, I don’t take anything for granted. That’s why I’m so eager to get back as soon as possible.
“Nobody is guaranteed a Blues jersey until the team is announced.”
Now after Monday night football the Blues are apparently in chaos with injuries to St George Illawarra flyer Brett Morris and Manly Sea Eagles’ custodian Brett Stewart.
But who said these guys were even going to be picked?
New South Wales have something they haven’t had for years. They have players in form in all positions ready for an assault on the Maroons empire.
Who says the Blues can’t win without captain Gallen?
Who cares if Morris and Stewart are gone?
The fact that so many have already written off the Blues proves that the mindset of its supporters remains the same. Have no doubt that things are improving and the belief is slowly coming back, but is it the end of the world if Gallen or others are ruled out?
I guess unbridled belief is from a bygone era.
The Blues can topple Queensland.
Believe it.
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