So Paul Gallen has been called selfish by Phil Gould. Is it his fault though?
Anyone who has played Super Coach or any other fantasy type football will tell you that Gallen is a keeper. He does what no other player does. He plays 80 minutes in the middle of the park and tops the tackle count. When other hard-working players do a hit up each set he does two.
Now let’s think about that. He often does two hit ups in a set of six.
If you break it down, in a traditional rugby league set of six the fullback gets the ball off a kick and that is the first tackle. In a fairly predictable manner the next tackle is usually an outside back taking a hit up from dummy half before the forwards get back onside and hit up the next two tackles. That leaves one tackle for the backs to try something to break the defensive line before the kicker drives the ball into the corner or in-goal to try and get a repeat set.
Cronulla are no different to most teams in the predictable way that they play with the exception that they have Paul Gallen. His superhuman fitness levels get him back there for that first forward hit up more often than not. Another follows off the back of it but then there he is again putting his hand up to go again.
At a club with limited success they have repeatedly asked him to contribute more and he has as they became overly reliant on his great work rate. His work ethic is to be admired but the problem is that it leaves the backs without a single opportunity to test the opposition defence out wide.
A few years ago that wasn’t a problem. They had no bullets to fire. They would fight, wrestle and nag away at a game but they didn’t have the cattle to blow a team away out wide.
If you look at Paul Gallen’s career, he has rarely played in a successful team. He has always led from the front and often by necessity. He has almost single handedly dictated how Cronulla play over a long period of time.
He has rarely played with a dominant halfback and never with a super star running the game plan. He has been the man. He has put his hand up and driven his team up the field in the only way he knows, hard work.
The only problem is that now Cronulla have the weaponry around him. Young players like Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes are future superstars capable of making defences look silly. They want the ball but don’t get it because Gallen is there in the middle of the park doing his remarkable second hit up.
Would Andrew Johns have copped that? How about Allan Langer? Your kidding. Despite the great packs these legends played with they always got that ball when they wanted it.
It is interesting that both Cronulla and Wests Tigers have struggled with recent negotiations with their long-standing club legends. It seems at each club a new bus driver has arrived and it is time for Gallen and Robbie Farah to take a back seat. They no longer need to give directions. They just need to do their job and make sure the bus is in the right suburb to start with and the young fellas will take it from there.
Old habits are hard to break though. Robbie refused to change his and it didn’t end well. Gallen hasn’t yet but with James Maloney on his way from the Roosters I think he will be clearly told next year what his role is and isn’t. Flanagan has predictably supported his leader until now but it will be interesting to see how he handles the change.
Put simply, Cronulla don’t need a second hit up. They need to win.
James T
Guest
Simply remind gal he's a back rower and hit a hole. He's still a great forward but if I have to go through the Gallen and bird hog fest at origin I'll be sick.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I honestly wonder if Gallen's huge gas tank (meaning he rarely gets benched for a rest) doesn't have a negative knock on effect on his other abilities -- it's a classic case of just because someone *can* doesn't mean they *should*, Gallen got benched quite early during SOO2 due to injury this year and I thought it was one of his better games when he came back on with none of the pointless offloads or excess carries near the opposition try line that mar his play at times but plenty of strong carries when his team needed them and a solid tackling effort which was exactly what was required -- and he did it better than usual because he wasn't doing the other things.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I'm not a Gallen fan this is how he plays. He isn't selfish just an old fashioned forward who brings the ball up strongly every time. if this is causing problem then look at the ball distribution. Gallen might call for it but it doesn't mean he has to get it.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Is this conversation taking place as they go on stage to receive their premiership rings? ;)
Crug in the cave
Roar Rookie
Same criticisms of Gal over the last few years. Great player, awful human. But can he learn to trust teamates at this stage of his career. The Sharks have a great looking team next year can Gal leave other blokes to play their role or will he continue to overplay his hand, my guess is he will do as he has always done. The Sharkies would be better if he learnt or retired.
Muzz
Guest
Sharks 2016 Maloney - "frk" Holmes - "whats up bro?" Maloney - "i'm so borred! We never see any frking ball" Holmes - "Don't worry cuzzy, we generally play poker in the second half. Look at Townsie, He loves being back. He's on the 10 metre line with his easel painting a picture of Botany Bay for his chic." Maloney - "I'm getting cold. i'm going in for a few hit ups" Holmes - "Don't do that bro, the middle third belongs to Gal. He will eat you" Maloney - "frrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrk. Someone please get me out of here."
The eye
Guest
Gal,Lewis and Wade..only other back rower I'd dream for would me Manu Ma'au
Renegade
Roar Guru
Agree with who? Pete is saying quite the opposite....
pilferer
Guest
Mcguire
Jara W
Guest
Got to agree. Gallen is far more a numbers player than a team player. I don't think you can legitimately argue that he would give up his stats for a win, because he thinks that's how you do win. Super harsh but I'll just say it. He's simply not intelligent enough to understand when his efforts are detrimental.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
No one can doubt Gallen's ability, desire, fitness, and hardness but he could be running 300 metres a game and if Cronulla don't get across the tryline more often than the opposition it is a waste of energy. There can be no hard fast rules, but to have Gallen not touch the ball within 35m of the opposition line would do a lot to Cronulla's attacking game. Gallen, and for that matter, Farah cast big shadows and I wouldn't be suprised if the back line are subconsciously intimidated by their need for the ball and just take a back seat to his demands. No doubt they should step up and demand the ball themselves, but that might be easier said than done. And like the new players at the tigers, maybe the current Cronulla newcomers will not be able to show their worth until that very large shadow is no longer on the field with them. That shadow might just be to intimidating to take on and step out of at this stage of the rookie's career.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Johnny Utah
Guest
"fake tough guys" hahaha that describes Greg Bird to a tee
JVGO
Guest
Gallen has been playing in the front row covering for the absence of the FIfitas for the last six weeks. The fact that they have made the finals can be petty much slated back to his efforts in an undersized forward pack. Gallen is not the problem.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Gallen has never had a strong coach to tell him his role. What he believes his role is has become a detriment to his team
pete bloor
Guest
They also have the worst for and against in the top 8 so it isn't like they immolated the competition.
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
Well they're in the finals, and they've been winning games so obviously it's not an issue. Most teams these days have a dozen or so possessions where they will do five hit ups, so there is nothing unusual about that. Rugby league is a game of metres and possession. Your best forward taking to hit ups a set ticks both those boxes.
cavey
Guest
As much as i admire Gal for taking it to the Qld pack when his side were getting belted in defence and leading from the front, far too often he took aimless one out hit with Nsw attacking 25 metres or less out.
Brett
Guest
It doesn't really matter at this stage. Gallen isn't going to change his playing style in his second last year in the NRL.
Michael
Guest
With Gallen being contracted until next year, it doesn't look like their style of play is going to change. The same grinding has worked for them this year, I speculate that Gallen has a hand in this so if your a Cronulla supporter bad luck to you. Sitting through an 80 minute game is like anxiously waiting for your medical blood test.