Paul Gallen to hang up the boots at the end of the year

Even Mrs Smith hates Smith .

He's no Cory Parker ;)

Exactly. You can’t “manage” or “manipulate” 180+ metres per game week after week at the highest level for 19 years. How is “Paul always played for Paul first second and third and his team came a poor 4th” actually quantified or qualified. I’m far from his biggest fan but I saw a bloke regularly busting a gut for his team at club, state and test level. I really don’t know how you can watch a game of footy and say “that hitup straight up the middle was for Paul, not for his team” There’s plenty of valid criticism to be made about Gallen but this one is nonsense.

I sorta agree with you both . I do believe Gallen had a very high level of self interest, but I also think he’d take a bullet for a team mate .

It’s rugby league, it’s contact sport,until it was mollycoddled , it was perhaps the only gladiatorial team sport left on the planet , people like you should stick to watching synchronised swimming.

After Cronk's first game against the Storm he gave every single one of his ex teammates a hug..... except Smith who he barely acknowledged, there's the proof

"Even Cronk and Slater hate Smith" Where do you find this cr_p ? There are is plenty of very strange footage and media stories and interviews around if that was remotely true. One thing you will never take away from Gal is that he is the biggest grub ever to play this game.

Rubbish. He's been a good workhorse, but is also fairly limited, prone to dumb penalties and taking the ball when he shouldn't be involved in the play. He's racked up good numbers at times and had a good caree, but one of the best forwards to play the game? Nonsense. All of that is even before going into what a grub he is, and how likely it seems that his career has been at least partly boosted by illegal substances.

All the best Paul. I'm sure your contributions will outlast the conundrums when we remember you in history. Note to future players: First impressions count. Make them positive or live with the stigma long past the actions.

You mean putting his hand up for a run at every opportunity? That's exactly the type of player you want to have playing next to you, I guess you've never laced up a boot in your life.

Exactly,it wasnt an announcement,it was a confirmation..

Actually the last time fans were polled and asked "Who is the player you most love to hate?" the top response was Cameron Smith, followed by Josh Reynolds and then Gallen. Even Cronk and Slater hate Smith.

His stats may not lie but I believe that he has "managed" them for years. Paul's biggest problem is that Paul always played for Paul first second and third and his team came a poor 4th. I am sure he will continue to use the same manipulative techniques that he has honed over a decade, so you have no worries, old man or not, his numbers will still be up there.

Probably the most disliked player in the game and that is saying something, He may have been able to play the game at a high level for a long time but his general conduct both on the field and off it says a lot to his real character. I may be a blues man through and through but I would sooner see Queensland win every origin game than see Paul Gallen lead out my state.

His ripping the stitches of a prone man was one of the most cowardly acts in sport.

Nah Joe.........he's just a grub

But at least tell your members first. I assume members receive regular emails and notifications, this is the sort of member first comms which clubs should control.

Regardless of whether you like him or hate him Paul Gallen is one of the best forwards to play the game. His impact on games had lessened considerably last year but his stats don't lie, he is still a very good forward. Hopefully his output this year remains the same and he hasn't gone on a year too long.

I agree with everything you said TB . . . . . . still a grub though!

It's not actually news, everybody knew when he re-signed it would be his last year, he'll be 38 in August.