New South Wales should stop to appreciate the invaluable contributions made by Paul Gallen and Robbie Farah before our team makes further headway in their absence.
Much of the state used the glorious Game 1 thrashing of Queensland as an opportunity to highlight negatives and apportion blame, mainly because we’ve become allergic to euphoria.
This meant that instead of lauding the achievements of the 17 men on the paddock as we experienced this foreign sensation apparently called ‘delight’, many emphasised the vital contribution to the win made by Gallen and Farah.
This is obviously unfair, and we should really get ourselves checked out by a professional.
So with the Blues on the cusp of winning a series upon their immediate departure, we should take the opportunity to commemorate the tireless service they provided to a decade brimming with a series win.
History may paint the recent past in a negative light, but Gallen and Farah will be fondly remembered as the gladiators unjustly conscripted to lead the state into countless campaigns of predictable Queensland ambushes.
On many occasions they produced numerous single-handed superhuman performances to restrict the enemy to a reasonably low score, and often the Blues to an even lower one.
But while they will be remembered for leadership qualities that knew no bounds, it is their legacy as revolutionaries that has left an indelible mark on the arena.
Farah changed the game forever by proving you can be picked from the most helpless position on the first-grade fringes provided the coach is indiscriminately loyal, while Gallen killed off punching.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Many say they will be best remembered for their on-field exhibits of truly terrifying fire and brimstone – sometimes even directed towards the opposition – but it is the unspoken moments in camp that are most cherished.
Teammates were deeply moved by their bristling desire to help others, using the example of Gallen’s single-minded approach to cracking the wifi password in the team hotel by always taking the first, second, fourth and last attempts.
They also lovingly recall Farah’s steely dedication to the battle regardless of the circumstances, best typified the night he tussled with Gallen for choice of movie at a camp bonding activity.
Such was their refusal to concede, it eventually resulted in a television ban which was blamed on Mitchell Pearce.
Theirs was a contribution to the state that is going sadly unnoticed. It is like having our own pair of Tim Glasbys.
Please take the time to remember the fine groundwork they have laid for the state’s imminent success – a heavenly golden period which newspapers have modestly predicted will last for 10 to 15 series – in which they will have no implication.
They busted a gut for a decade we’d all prefer to forget, and we must remember them, at least until we win on Wednesday night and move on.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Allah Akbar !
Wild Eagle
Guest
Just about anyone who has been selected often for NSW over the last 10 years has been heavily criticised . If Mitchell Pierce missed selection last game many would be saying they did so well because the selectors finally realised he couldn't play. Farah was deemed to be a big problem at The Tigers but when he left things got worse. The selectors don't agree with your assessment of Gallen. He has been consistently picked for Australia based on his performances. Hayne the Plane isn't selected based on his results at club or origin level but on his ability. Gordon Tallis has a terrible SOO record and Brad Thorns is even worse but they aren't defined as players by this.
Craig
Guest
There's reasons why both are criticised heavily. I was a fan of Robbie Farah and I admired Gallens work rates in his earlier days, but both are extremely selfish and self absorbed. The team is better without Gallen no question. Would they have won over the last 10 years more often without him? We will never know. He's a grade one grub. Admittedly he has become less and less grubby the longer his career has gone, but he was a poor role model, poor leader and for someone with years of poor results oozes unjustified arrogance. It's unbelievable to think that smith and Lockyer are humble greats with everything they've achieved, yet Gallen who doesn't have great results oozes an arrogance that is embarrassing.
JVGO
Guest
You can see what a great leader Gallen is with this Cronulla side. Finally with a side that can match it for talent with the rest he has against all the naysayers and narcs led them to numerous against the odds victories and a come from behind Grand Final win. He is not the player he once was once but even at 35 is probably the best most consistent inspirational forward in the premiership. To blame Gallen or even Farrah is childish, the problem was the halves and Inglis playing for them rather than us. Had Inglis just played for NSW things would have been about even anyway.
Wild Eagle
Guest
Do the Australian selectors judge players only on their results at SOO level? Dane Gagai doesn't seem to be judged by his results at club level. Plenty were judging Barretts coaching ability by his results prior to this year and declaring him to be a dud. The player with the worst record at SOO level is Brad Thorn but is that all he is judged on?
Big Daddy
Guest
What's the difference between Paul Gallen , Robbie Farah and god. God doesn't think he's Paul Gallen or Robbie Farah.
Big Daddy
Guest
You can only judge players on their results. Both Gallen and Farah were good players. Inspirational - I don't think so. If they were as good as their hyped up egos NSW may have been more successful.
steveng
Roar Rookie
You forgot Michael Ennis, you can add him to that list also. Had 2 games and they were both duds including the NSW sides he played with.
Nat
Roar Guru
Do you think another hooker could have seen a different result? Or at least remembered differently if he didn't get the ball every time he called it?
Nat
Roar Guru
That is a cracking compliment to Qld. In the same breath as the German/ Brazil soccer team, the Dream Team and the All Blacks. Globally dominant and respected teams.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Totally get where you are coming from, but I don't know if he could've been the leader that he was if he wasn't captain. Being captain give him a voice that he probably wouldn't have had otherwise and I think the trust it placed in him gave him the drive to succeed.
Nat
Roar Guru
Can I suggest he was a better leader than Captain? All those attributes you listed are of a passionate man looking to lead NSW out of a dark period and I respect his took over the role after the Gidley 'from the bench' debacle so options were scarce. However, he worked himself to exhaustion that he would struggle to speak with the refs and often just end up arguing. Not his fault but it is a requirement of the role. His HATRED definitely added spice (I have missed that this year) and Klemmer would suit that role but are those the actions of a man of whom will be the face of NSW in our games pinnacle showpiece? Terrific warriors who lack diplomacy shouldn't be made King.
Dr Yes
Guest
This. Flippin' Gaze & Heal not beating the dream team...
Mac
Guest
This...Thank goodness NSW had a hard as nails captain through out an amazing period of maroon dominance who could be called upon to keep getting back up time and time again and be the rock that the Blues needed. Whoever was at the helm against during this period would have copped an absolute hammering but few would have stood their ground the way Paul Gallen did. Let's not forget some of his performances when NSW had no choice but to bring him into the front row and the fact that he was there to finally end the 8 year run of consecutive losses.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Great forward , terrible captain .
Wild Eagle
Guest
I blame Captain Cook for the appalling cuisine I had to endure growing up in the 60s and 70s . If only the French had of stepped up to the plate when they were exploring the Island in the 1700's
Oto shark
Guest
I blame Daley for not picking Dane Eldridge instead of Gallen.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Yeah Klemmer's got a touch of the Mark Geyers about him, but with a bit more guidance that MG wished he could've had in his playing days. I'd like to see somebody step up and engage the fans like Gallen did. Hayne does it at the ground, but doesn't speak to the media anywhere near as much and can't say anything too controversial since he plays for a Queensland club.
Captain's Knock
Guest
Yeah let's blame Gallen and Farrah. While we're at it we can blame Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal for the Boomers not being able to beat the Dream Team. We can also blame Allan Border for years of thrashings against the West Indies, Tim Cahill and Mark Viduka for Australia not winning the World Cup, and while we're at it let's blame every Wallabies captain over the past 5 years for not being able to beat the All Blacks.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Kurt "He'll Do" Gidley