Paul Gallen

[timber]

yeh forget it antonio kautusi has been called into the squad.i dont see why theyd pik a front rower to replace a lock.anyway its done now.

 

[gavin07]

kaufusi? are you sure? i just heard on the radio that anthony tupou has been called in

 

[Megashark]

Bobcat Ryan comes into the starting side in the second row, O'Donnell goes to lock and Tupou onto the bench (he was already a part of the wider squad). Kaufusi comes into the squad as a replacement for the injured Maitua but will not play on Saturday night. How they bring in Kaufusi ahead of Gallen is totally beyond me???

 

[Nulla Boy]

Nah sorry mate I don't agree. I don't like the idea of players making rep on the back of who the coach is. Club, State and Country should all stay seperate when it comes to coach/player alliances.

the players i chose i genuinley believe should b picked because all were in great form throughout the year(even in our crappy losing streak).and stapleton was just great for the panthers.
plus wat i highlighted,that happens all the time,so why couldn't ricky,would of built a good repoire with a few players before he starts fulltime training with cronulla,maybe even gain some much needed confidence amongst the squad,i dont know y he didn't,his first commitment should b with the sharks,so he should help them any way possible.

 

[nulla nulla]

bugger all. If Gallen plays for Australia he gets a bonus due to a clause in his contract. That would put us very close to the cap, which means if Ricky wants to make a purchase he won't be able too

 

[Inferno]

Gallen is overated by many IMO. Hoffman and Johnson both deserve to be there before Gallen gets a shot.

 

[the_prawn]

i'll back that.
first half of the season he owned that spot.
second half they took it from him.
but when he's on, i don't think he's overrated

 

[Great White]

Very accurate opinion prawn man.

 

[sharks195]

there is no way that matua could have possibly been in front of gallen, johnson, hoffman and tongue. out of all these players i would have put in tongue as he did everything with shifcofske at the raiders. the next would have to be hoffman, then gallen and finally johnson

 

[Great White]

I think Matuia utility value would of helped him alot. The others mentioned are limited in utility.

 

[the_prawn]

thats exactly why he got picked.
the selectors liked the fact he could play backrow, lock and centres.
besides hoffman i don't think the others could be as versatile.

 

[loki jukes]

why wont they give gallen a chance?
he is such an underated player
you see him in the state of origin game?
thye said he was 1 of the best players out there?
he needs 1 chance and thats all
good luck to him

one of the future leaders for the sharks
lets all hope we can keep him

 

[Great White]

He was strong before and during SOO but after that he dropped off slightly and made a few handling errors.

 

[Woody]

The Sharks been careful to keep enough under the salary cap to offer Gallen a big contract later next year so hopefully he will stay. I think the fact that he wanted to leave the club under Raper may have played a factor in getting Stuart, so hopefully he will stay.

 

[Great White]

I personally think the whole Gallen thing was partly a media diversion as part of the sacking of Raper.

I am sure Ricky will realise how import Gallen is to our club and possible premiership challenges now and in the future.

 

[Hammerhead]

Gallen seeks new Sharks deal

Gallen: I'd like to stay now
PETER BADEL
26 November 2006
Sunday Telegraph

CRONULLA powerhouse Paul Gallen is set to commence talks on a lucrative new deal with the Sharks -- nine weeks after demanding a release from the club.

The NSW Origin back-rower will open negotiations with Sharks boss Greg Pierce and coach Ricky Stuart when the latter returns from Tri-Nations duty with Australia.

Gallen, 25, wants a two-year extension -- which would tie him to the club until the end of 2009 -- and to finish his career with the Sharks.

"I've had a chat with my manager about it and this will be the biggest contract of my career," Gallen said.

"It might be wise to keep my options open but with Ricky coming to the Sharks, I think the place is definitely on the way up and I'd be more than happy to stay. Hopefully everything falls into place.

"I'd like another two [years], that would give me 10 years at the club. That's something I'm keen to do, stay with the one club my entire career."

Gallen's stance is a big fillip for the Sharks, who were stunned in September when the damaging forward asked for a release with 12 months still to run on his contract.

The Sharks rejected the offer, but Gallen insists he has no regrets over the affair.

"I'm not disappointed in asking for a release because you are only in this game for a short time and you have to do the best you can," he said. "It didn't make me look the best, but that's in the past."

Pierce said the club would welcome an extension. "We never wanted to let him go," Pierce said. "I'd be more than happy to sit down with him and extend his contract."

 

[Shiredad]

good to hear!

 

[jayshark]

Thats great news,would love to see him stay till the end of his career,he`s to good to let go.

 

[timmo]

yea they definately need to let him stay at the sharks. we need a good player like him. good to see ben ross back to full training too!!!

 

[Hammerhead]

i just think this proves he didnt like the way things were going under raper. That outburst a few months back was his way of demanding that the club act... and they did.