While Paul Gallen’s football feats don’t go unnoticed, it is important to take a look at the numbers. 303 metres. 80 tackles. 150 minutes on the field. An Origin series. All in the space of 72 hours.
Captaining two different teams in the space of three days is no easy feat, especially when one of those teams is sitting at the foot of the NRL ladder. But if anyone could do it, it’s Paul Gallen. It’s been a busy time for the man they call ‘Gal’.
Forgot the two-headed Queenslanders, Gallen may need three hands soon. He could have a wooden spoon in one hand for his NRL club Cronulla’s last-place efforts, a World Cup in another and finally a State of Origin shield in another.
And to think it’s all while ASADA is breathing down his bung neck.
With plans in motion to have Gallen immortalised in bronze out front of ANZ Stadium, one can only wonder what else he would have to do to truly be remembered as a NSW Origin great.
While he may not have the skill of Andrew Johns or the raw power of someone like Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach, you’ll never see a player with more ferocity and belief than ‘the G-train’, as he is known on the Footy Show.
Next year shapes as a big one for Gal. Not only faced with the task of resurrecting a Sharks team riddled with problems, Gallen has stated that 2015 will ‘most likely be his last year of rep footy’.
Seeing that he is set to hang up the boots at the end 2016 season, it is becoming an increasing possibility that arguably NSW’s best ever lock forward will walk away from the game he loves with no premiership ring. A curse many great players have paid, most notably Nathan Hindmarsh, but it is not one that Gallen will want to bear.
So now it’s time for Gallen to turn that around. Time to show the NRL that age is just a number for a man whose body knows only one way. He’s got one Origin series in hand, now to start a dynasty.
Paul B
Guest
He was relentless in both Origins 1 & 2. His effort in securing the loose ball, and promoting it to within proximity of the Blue's try line led directly to the series winning Hodkinson try. Has been as valuable as Hayne and better than any QLD player this series.
Dallas
Guest
I'm qlder through and through. But Paul Gallen is the best forward I have ever seen. His stats are unmatched week in week out, no one comes close. Guys like webcke, civoniceva etc could go hard in the middle for 20-25 mins and then have a spell, but gallen goes for 80 mins, each hit up as hard as the last one. His fitness and competiveness is as freakish as hayne or Inglis ' athleticism.
Renegade
Guest
You're in la la land if you think he has had any unfair advantage over the past week which is what i stated.
Deep Impact
Guest
"The only unfair advantage he had on Wednesday night was that he was born in NSW" Don't you mean disability?
V.O.R.
Guest
"All these accolades will not be worth the paper they are written on if he is found to have had an unfair advantage over his competitors." Renegade if you do not think that this is the case then you are in la, la land mate.
Renegade
Guest
The only unfair advantage he had on Wednesday night was that he was born in NSW...... I see you're still crying into your weetbix V.O.R.
V.O.R.
Guest
All these accolades will not be worth the paper they are written on if he is found to have had an unfair advantage over his competitors.
Benedict Arnold
Guest
He has had a decent career I supposed, based a lot on hard work. However, it's going to be hard to be able to properly judge gallen until after this season at least. A huge cloud still hangs over his career, and we all know what I am talking about...
Rusty nails
Guest
Paul Gallen is truly a workhorse but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. One series win does not equal a dynasty. As for a statue , I think it might be best to wait until he has retired before making that decision. What if NSW get beaten the next 3 series in a row with Gallen as captain and Cronulla come last for the next 3 years. The statue will then be celebrating one of the greatest loser captains RL has seen.
Knightblues
Guest
Get that up ya all you dumb arse Gal haters!