It’s been a tough old season for Sharks fans in 2014. I imagine, for most Sharks supporters, when the buzzer sounds on their final game of the year this Saturday, there will be a sigh of relief.
The season from hell will finally be over.
Most NRL fans would feel sorry for the Sharks. To recap their season from hell, they were in contention for the wooden spoon for most of the year, are currently without a major sponsor and lost their key playmaker, Todd Carney, earlier in the year for alcohol-related stupidity.
The most devastating part of the 2014 season for the Sharks however was the continuing ASADA investigations which culminated in a number of players from the 2011 squad accepting a 12-month ban, expiring on November 21.
This resulted in a series of players being stood down from playing in the NRL immediately for the remainder of the season as long as they admitted to being drug cheats.
One of these players was Paul Gallen and the repercussions for him have been severe.
The NSWRL decided to make Paul Gallen ineligible for the Brad Fittler Medal following his suspension and his breach of the anti-doping policy. It did not end there either – Gallen is no longer in the running for the Dally M awards, where he could have taken out the rep player of the year title.
Despite all this, Gallen still remains in contention for the Rugby League Players Association award. This award is voted on by players and is arguably the most prestigious award of all, as Gallen would be recognised by his peers for his on-field performance and off-field contribution and achievement.
I’m not sure how I feel about Paul Gallen remaining in contention.
On the one hand, there is the tremendous pity I feel for the Sharks players who have been ruled out for the remainder of the season following the acceptance of the ASADA bans. While players are ultimately responsible for the substances which enter their bodies, I feel that for many players this is an extremely high standard.
It really raises questions about the relationship between players, their trainers and their coaches. The reality is that many players are signed up by clubs at a very young age. They are told what to eat, when to train, agents often do their commercial negotiations for them and they essentially place their playing futures in the hands of their coaching staff.
In this sort a scenario it is extremely difficult for a player to question their trainers and their coaches and to know exactly what is going into their bodies.
On the other hand though, rules are there and the rules were broken.
Is the Rugby League Players Association another body which should seek to penalise Gallen as well?
up in the north
Guest
Gary you are so right. What rankles the most with me is they're trying to make out that this is a good outcome. WTF. This is a huge blackeye for the NRL and I think Ms Kaye was wondering out loud if he had been dealt with reasonably. I for one don't think he was.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
And he is the player that has gained the most from the performance enhancing drugs they took. He should also be stripped of the 2011 Wally Lewis Medal and player of the match awards as he won these during the season he has now been charged for, and admitted to, taking performance enhancing drugs.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
The suggestion that Gallen accepted injections that he knew would help him play better but he thought it was legal is an absolute joke. How do you think the conversation went? "Hey Gal, come to training early because I have an injection that'll help you play better and/or recover faster. Yeah yeah, don't worry checking for yourself, I've checked and the performance enhancing injection is legal." and then Gal says "Cool, I've always wanted to play 80 minutes of an Origin match and receive the Man-of-the-Match honours, the 2011 Wally Lewis Medal and accolades and media contracts for the rest of my career. Thanks for making sure its legal - who would've though heh?!?!?!" Some of the commentary on this is bazaar. Yes, old mate Bennett hit out at the club management - he was pretty annoyed his own player had to do time. He tried to defend his player as he always does. Hardly an impartial comment. In fact, he doesn't make impartial comments because he only makes comments when he is working (i.e. has an agenda). But anyone who seriously thinks the players were somehow tricked into accepting injections that they knew would help aid recovery and/or performance has some problems. Why else did they think they were injecting drugs?
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
"Good for the game" - that will certainly take some arguing. Time for him to retire I think.
deanp
Guest
Turn it up you flogs. Gallen is a champion, both on and off the field. That he has managed to maintain a calm dignity despite the personal attacks and baseless allegations from the foaming campaigners and bitter haters is a testimony to his manliness. You're kidding yourselves if you think the coerced confessions of sharkies players are worth the paper they are signed off on, as evidence of guilt they'd be laughed out of any court of law.
Manly Man
Guest
Haha
Elma Dudd
Guest
James ya big Crawler...
Adam
Guest
Ultimate responsibility should be on an individual athlete and what they allow themselves to eat, take, drink, inject etc. Too bad Gallen.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
did world cup count?? genuine question, was after last years dally ms but also still in 2013 hayne def would be his competition, or Parker
Rasputin
Guest
Gal is a human being but he was trying to become inhuman by using PE drugs. He should stay away from any contact sports.
c
Guest
they had promised to sign off about 3 days after asada acted which was a couple of weeks ago
john badseed
Guest
Being a drug cheat doesn't seem to have hurt the Mad dog's post footy career. Bring on the Maddog and Gal show. Bring on the rage!!
Mr Sportsbet
Roar Rookie
Paul Gallen is good for the game - wish he was in 4 nations as I was looking forward to seeing him play at suncorp (im qld fan). Guess I will see him in origin next year. All the best to him.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Oh James, thanks very much! That is so lovely of you to say!
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Paul Gallen was mainly the target because I was specifically focused on the awards that he has been ruled out of contention for.
Jake
Guest
No sympathy for him or the players. Admitting to drug taking and receiving a ban from August to November. Whoop de dooo. I'd ask him to buy me a lottery ticket.
Gremlins
Roar Rookie
I think there must be a real difference between the way WADA/ASADA can deal with individual athletes (e.g. Olympics) and the way they deal with teams. Even cycling doping is individual rather than team, although teams have been penalised for allowing it. But club doping (aka peptides) is another matter altogether. It'll be interesting to see what happens to Essendon.
MAX
Guest
My Mum encouraged me to reason that 'Forgiveness is the most admirable of all human emotions' Play on Paul Gallen and play well.
mattray
Guest
Hi squidward. I enjoy reading your posts. I some what agree but jarryd hayne starred in the world cup then starred in origin. I don't see how gallen was a better rep player. The world cup will be considered for rep player of the year this year.
mushi
Guest
didn't he plead guilty?