Today the NRL officially fined Cronulla Shark and NSW captain Paul Gallen $50,000 over his controversial tweet following the announcement of Steve Noyce’s dismissal from the club.
For the purposes of this I won’t be making any comment regarding the reports in the Daily Telegraph earlier re: Gal’s battle with depression. I don’t even pretend to understand the disease and won’t comment any further other than to wish those affected all the best.
As well as the fine, Gallen has also been banned from representing the Australian Kangaroos in 2015 until he completes a leadership course in the future.
There is also talk of the NRL putting pressure on the NSWRL to strip Gallen of the NSW Blues State of Origin captaincy.
Straight up, Gal’s tweet was inappropriate and uncalled for, but the punishment is massive overkill, at least in my eyes.
Johnathan Thurston in years gone by flatly accused the NRL of a conspiracy to ensure his North Queensland Cowboys side did not progress deep into the finals. The basis of this was Thurston’s assertion that the NRL wanted an all-Sydney grand final.
His punishment? No sanction.
Gallen, on his private Twitter account, called a group of people a rude word. Possibly the rudest word – and for the record I am not defending the tweet.
I’ve managed to use social media for years without ever using the word in question, but there are thousands of fans who call people worse every single day.
Gallen should have known better, and should be punished for his actions. In his position, you simply can’t use that kind of language toward the people who are directly or indirectly your boss.
If you spoke to your boss tomorrow in the same way, I bet it wouldn’t end well.
But $50,000 and a ban from representing the national side?
A $10,000 ban and severe warning to not re-offend would surely have sufficed. It’s not like Gallen has been known to sit on Twitter and abuse everyone and everything.
This was a one off tweet, I suspend whilst enjoying a few beverages, which is a result of two years of extreme pressure and career altering headlines.
No excuses though, he shouldn’t have said what he did, but there is no way he should have copped a $50,000 fine and banned from representing his country. It’s massive overkill by the NRL.
Stolzy
Guest
so we are supposed to say its alright because some misinformed people on social media think its ok to say whatever they want and just because they havnt been caught its ok?..and im sorry Daniel but since when is twitter Private? i work for a rather large corporation who on day 1 of induction with our new staff we take them through the social media policy..what can be done..what cant be done...and so far this year we have had 3 people fired over comments made on twitter or facebook about the bosses that run the company....some people just never learn... and to compare what Gallen said to what Thurston said in the heat of the moment after being on the wrong end of calls years in a row is a bit rich.....same with Big Mal...he was speaking about the NSW journos...not about the administration of the game.... wether he is depressed...drunk...or just angry at how he feels he has been treated...that he had to sit out 3 games (when it should have been a full 12 months 24 if he was in an olympic sport) didnt win the brad fittler medal..(didnt deserve it Ryan Hoffman did solo not with Hayne)...still does not give him the right to come out and say this...i hope he fights it..and i hope they double it..maybe then he would learn....if not he can pick up his ball and leave....rugby league is bigger then any one player as we will see next year....no hayne...no SBW...no Burgess...No matter the world still keeps spinning and we will all still be watching the footy and cheering on our team
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
And people wander why players are leaving the code... The NRL judiciary system is a joke. One match for disabling a player (I know it was an tragic accident) but 50k fine and no test selection for a tweet. Ridiculous.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I would be very surprised if Laurie Daley retains him as skipper. Given the new culture he is trying to established and jettisoning Mitchell Pearce for bad behaviour.
cecil
Guest
Time for a new NSW captain (not Greg Bird or Robbie Farrah)
The Barry
Roar Guru
Overall, I like Gallen but it's hard to defend him or feel sorry for him here. As said above try posting that about your boss and your entire company and see what happens when you show up for work tomorrow. $50k is not that bad an outcome when you think of how much he earns and what would happen to Eddie Punchclock or Sally Housecoat if they did the same. He's 33 years old, he's a father and husband, he's a club captain, captain of his state and has vice-captained his country. He has multiple roles in the media. At what stage is someone expected to grow up and not behave like an offensive teenager. Is it any wonder that Cronulla has such a culture problem when he's one of their leaders? Didn't he blame his dad for hijacking his twitter account a couple of years ago?
mushi
Guest
Different jobs have different expectations. You'd be a bit of a princess builder if you go in never expecting to get some cuts and catch a stray tool
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Voice! Where have you been mate! That wasn't you on the SMH the other day was it? Can't remember the article.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Are you expected to bleed and get hurt for your job? No. It's not a real job. Its a sport in which they get paid
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Agreed.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
I'm with Pedro on this one. Gallen needs to learn accountability...although at 33 I think the horse might have bolted. Having said that, my beef is really with stitches pulling, racial abuse, testicle grabbing, slapping people in the head when they're unconscious, punching people in the face because you're not mentally tough enough and continually blaming referees - and everyone else really - when you don't get your own way. Imagine what his wife has to put up with from mugs on the street. Or his kids from mugs at school. Or his parents. I've always wondered why guys like Gallen, Mundine, McCracken, Elias and all the rest of them would put so much pressure on those close to them. They didn't ask for that. Selfish in the extreme. It's an absolute disgrace that NSW made him captain. It basically sanctioned all of the above. It's just not what NSW stands for. So I have to concede that one set of issues might be bleeding into the other here...
Campo
Guest
You showed your ignorance again - the expression is hear - hear not here here you uneducated grunt. I dont think the Gallen saga is over and how can he banned from Aus but not NSW
jimmy recard
Guest
As a player I give this guy tones of respect. but as a person he has none from me, he is a thug, whinger, and immature, he was racist towards mickey pea back in 2010 i think, and the list goes on, Paul you took a banned substance, your club has taken the nrls name to the gound with over 8 players or more being involved in the supplements scandal, not to mention all the off field discrepancy through the year i.e Fifita, Carney, topless waitresses(nothing wrong with this but in a public eye when you have young children involved.. then man pull your head in). I know for a fact legit majority of bosses would flick you or dock you or take your pay down if you tweeted something so stupid.. and for the record guys ive been around the boxing game for years, had my share of fights in the amateurs and had them in the pros too and i can telll you now dont go in there expecting to see Paul Gallen beaten.. its boxing its the mugs game.. watts will lose.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Your last comment "Gal doesn’t get it", is what disappoints me most. It is almost like he doesn't understand at all,that part of his role as a player is to represent the sport to attract support and sponsors. He must know that he is watched by impressionable kids throughout Australia. He must realise that sponsors won't be attracted to a team where the most senior player does the "c" word in public, openly slagging off the organisation that governs the sport. He should take up his issues with the NRL in private if he has a dispute with them, not slag them off like a 12 year old in public. It does make you question whether he should remain a captain of any team. I don't think he takes his responsibilities seriously enough. Sport is a business and it's not just what happens on the field that is important and he doesn't seem capable of dealing with it.
Edward Kelly
Guest
Take off the maroon glasses Pedro. This is BS. He should challenge it.
robertdowney
Guest
exactly. He is the nsw captain, 30+, appears in the media regularly and a main player in the nrl and representative football. if any of us call our bosses the C word what would you expect in return? ......and also doing it in an incredibly public forum. He has had a questionable record beyond his playing ability for years and this has been largely overlooked or tolerated or given a mild sentence. doping, racism, stitch pulling, thuggery.....and the list goes on. unfortunately there appear to many Gallgroupies out there who condone or minimise the behaviour. unfortunately due to his playing ability and his media appearances, he has been start believing his own hype.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Gallen must have had a few on board to vent his bile. Why did he direct his rant at Smith when it should have been Damian Keogh and the Sharks Board. This was a Club issue not an NRL one, Gallens rant didn't make any sense what so ever.
laimo
Guest
Is it a warning to other players in light of the recent events around Beale in union? Could be, but never bite the hand that feeds you!
WoobliesFan
Guest
Chickens coming home to roost. No we see why NSW lost so many series under his 'leadership'.....if you can call it that.
WoobliesFan
Guest
Here here. ARU deadbeats take note.
Muzz
Guest
I think Gals best chance of being rehabilitated is coming to the Roosters.Where a compassionate club.Sharks have to pay half his salary though.Our cap isn't that flexible.