NSW captain Paul Gallen is dumbfounded by State of Origin great Peter Sterling’s call for him to be dropped from this year’s series.
Sterling on Wednesday night claimed the veteran Cronulla forward had fallen down the pecking order for a spot in the NSW pack, arguing he couldn’t find room for him in his best 17.
The comments have shocked Gallen, who believes he is still playing well enough to lead NSW out in the series-opener against Queensland at ANZ Stadium.
“I’m a bit dumbfounded by it to be honest,” he told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.
More Origin:
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» State of Origin fixtures
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» NSW Blues team for Origin 1
» My QLD Maroons team for Origin 1
“All I can do is go out and play well but to think that only a month ago I was out of the Australian side and I played well enough to slip my way back in there and got man-of-the-match for the Test.
“I just don’t know how me not being in that is justified.”
The Blues were on the end of a record 52-6 defeat in last year’s series-decider, prompting calls for an overhaul of a squad that has won only one of the past ten series.
However Gallen, who has confirmed the 2016 series will be his swansong, doesn’t believe he should be the fall-guy for the flogging.
“And not just because I’m the current captain,” he said.
“I think that you look at all those players Sterlo has picked in front of me or whoever is in the side at the moment and compare our individual games and how I’m playing, I honestly think I’m playing really well and I don’t think I deserve not to be there.”
Sterling, who played 13 Tests and 18 Origins during the 1980s, said that despite Gallen’s good form, he could not justify selecting the 34-year-old ahead of the likes of Aaron Woods, James Tamou, David Klemmer, Andrew Fifita or Parramatta enforcer Beau Scott.
“I’ve gone with 11 players who were involved in that 56-6 loss last year,” Sterling told Fox Sports on Wednesday night.
“The glaring omission is Paul Gallen, who was fantastic for Australia and is in really good form.
“But if I picked Gal I would have had to have left off either (David) Klemmer or (Andrew) Fifita and I didn’t want to do that.”
Peter Sterling’s NSW side
1. Matt Moylan, 2. Josh Dugan, 3. Jack Bird, 4. Michael Jennings, 5. Blake Ferguson, 6. James Maloney, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Michael Ennis, 10. James Tamou, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Josh Jackson, 13. Beau Scott. Interchange: 14. Trent Merrin, 15. Bryce Cartwright, 16. David Klemmer, 17. Andrew Fifita.
MrJSquishy
Roar Pro
In my opinion, Gallen is the NSW version of Gorden Tallis. He's a hard worker & he's passionate, but, he just doesn't play in winning games. Most people would suggest Tallis was a QLD legend but, he only played in 5 winning games in 19 appearances! Gallen is marginally better winning 8 from 21 appearances, but, that isn't going to win you many series. And, like Tallis, it seems to stem from wanting to have the ball all the time, even when he isn't the right option...
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Drops Gallen but keeps Pearce? I want what Sterlo is smokin'
Brendan
Guest
If Daley picks Pearce then he has officially lost the plot. He wheels out the "we want someone who has played in big games" line time and time again yet Gallen and Bird have played plenty of Origin despite neither appearing in a Grand Final. Someone gave them their rep footy break and now they are mainstays of the pack. Maybe if Daley went with the same thought process and picked players in form then we might not see Pearce run around and pick a half in form not one with a reputation
The Barry
Roar Guru
Ridiculous from Sterlo. At the start of the year I thought Gallen might miss out but he's been massive for the Sharks and the Kangaroos. If you don't want to drop Fifita or Klemmer fine, give Woods the flick. There's no way Woods is a better player than Gallen. Why would anyone pick Pearce when Pearce himself has said that he doesn't want to play? I know a lot of people reckon Sterlo is a great commentator but to me he's always been vanilla. Wants to be the nice guy all the time and sits firmly on the fence in the middle of the road. That can be the only explanation for picking Pearce. Surely he realises that locks and second rowers are not really interchangeable anymore? Is he expecting Beau Scott to defend in the middle third? I've been pushing a bit of a changing of the guard but one old timer who may be playing his way back into the side is Luke Lewis. He's been very impressive lately.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Yeah it seems Everytime it happens be fired up, he was on a mission that souths wk1 final. So hopefully Sterlo has just revved him up for Manly and Game1
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Didn't we have the same headlines last year, only last year it was Phil Gould calling for Gallen to be axed? Gallen's reaction last year was the same. It will be awkward at the Triple M studio should Sterlo and Gal cross paths...
Joe
Roar Rookie
Gallen, Maloney and Ennis should be picked for this years Origin. I think the problem with Gallen in the past that so many have mentioned is he demands the ball at the wrong time and whoever is at hooker or half let him have it because he's such a dominant figure in Origin. This year however because these three are playing together at club Ennis now knows when to give it to Maloney and give Gallen a miss or when to go himself. This was borne out in the test when Cam Smith is the hooker and isn't intimidated into giving Gallen the ball whenever he wants but only when he thinks he should have it, end result Gallen gets man of the match. Maloney is also demanding the ball a lot more at the right times. If you pick Gallen with young halves or hooker they'll pretty much let him do what he wants. If they're going with young halves/hooker than Gallen should not be picked.
Dave
Guest
Sterlo, great commentator, but lousy selector. Gallen was the stand out forward in the test against NZ. What more can he do but to be the top man at the highest level. That doesn't make any sense. NSW are great at picking players out of position and they suffer badly when the test is on. Dugan tries centre for the Dragons but they flicked him back to full back lately. He is the best number 1 in NSW, pick him there.He was found out of position many times in the test, and Qld will do the same. Sezer is the stand out half in hthe competition for NSW, I reckon he should be picked there asw well. There are many great wingers around, pick players in position and see what happens. The same old will get the same old results. I don't mind I'm a Queenslander but life to see a fair go, particularly for Gallen and I like NSW to be competitive.
Greg
Guest
Swap Pearce for A Reynolds or Sezer, swap Jack Bird for James Roberts, and swap Jackson for Gal and that would be my team
P. Marlowe
Guest
First it was Andrew Webster. Then it was this article yesterday: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/state-of-origin-1-2016-our-experts-name-their-nsw-teams-for-game-one/news-story/ad0c481b1a913c5f06da7c74e08bdd14 Now Sterlo. Mitchell Pearce just seems a lock.
Red Dog
Guest
Pearce ? Fergo ? Woods ? Too much sun on that shiny little head of yours Sterlo.
Agent11
Guest
I agree that Gallen is down the pecking order but Sterlo's team is rubbish.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Sterlos picked a good side. But I would be hard fetched to leave out the test man of the match. Josh Jackson makes way for him in that squad