Will Gallen still have to carry the Sharks?

[Yahoo News]

Will Gallen still have to carry the Sharks?
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 7:00 AM
Source: BigPond Sport
By Dominic Brock

[FONT=arial !important]BURNING QUESTIONS FOR 2012: Will captain courageous Gallen have to do it all again? Is Carney the right fit for Cronulla? And who will play halfback?
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Which Todd Carney will arrive?
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[FONT=arial !important]The Cronulla Sharks may have snatched the signing of the season when they tied up Todd Carney – or they may have secured a pricey flop. It depends which version of the talented but troubled star shows up at the Shire next season.
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[FONT=arial !important]If it's the Carney who burst onto the scene as a Raiders rookie and later won the 2010 Dally M medal with the Roosters, Cronulla will be a genuine attacking threat for the first time in years.
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[FONT=arial !important]But if it's the Carney whose off-field blunders and inconsistent form saw him axed by both the Raiders and Roosters, the Sharks' premiership drought will certainly continue.
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[FONT=arial !important]In 2010 Carney successfully stayed out of trouble, carried the tricolours all the way to the grand final, took out the NRL's biggest individual honour and seemed destined to become Darren Lockyer's successor as the Australia five-eighth.
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[FONT=arial !important]Yet last season he was well below his best, eventually being kicked out of Bondi after snubbing a team-imposed booze ban.
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[FONT=arial !important]One of rugby league's best players on his day, Carney has reportedly been training well at his latest club and could be the vital weapon the Sharks have lacked for so long.
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[FONT=arial !important]Surely even he must know that this will be his final chance of an NRL career. Surely?
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[FONT=arial !important]Who will play halfback?
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[FONT=arial !important]Carney's arrival means the Sharks now have a surplus of options in the halves. Wade Graham was the club's star signing a year ago, Albert Kelly was a revelation early last season and young gun Chad Townsend impressed in the top grade in late 2011. Ex-Parramatta half Jeff Robson has also arrived at the club.
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[FONT=arial !important]Assuming Carney takes the five-eighth spot, coach Shane Flanagan will have plenty of options for the number seven shirt.
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[FONT=arial !important]Kelly's pre-season off-field woes could mean he drops out of contention, while Graham has been mooted for a possible shift into the forward pack. Word is Townsend has been training well and may have the inside running, with youth and potential on his side. Alternatively, Graham could start in the halfback jersey and replace Paul Gallen at lock when the skipper is away on Origin duty.
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[FONT=arial !important]Whatever option Flanagan takes, he has the luxury of knowing there are plenty of halves waiting in the wings should the starting No.7 fail to impress. Competition for places can't be a bad thing. Cronulla's halves contributed the fewest try assists of any team in the NRL last season - something sure to change in 2012.
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[FONT=arial !important]Will the Sharks' pack over-rely on Gallen again?
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[FONT=arial !important]Paul Gallen was at his tireless best last season, although the Sharks invariably struggled when their captain was on NSW duty. Gallen's 429 carries for the season was a massive 37 per cent more than his next best teammate.
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[FONT=arial !important]This year they have also lost their two best props, with workhorse Luke Douglas joining the Titans and Kangaroo Kade Snowden heading to Newcastle.
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[FONT=arial !important]But Cronulla aren't short on new recruits either. Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita arrive from the Tigers, Ben Ross returns from the Rabbitohs and hooker Isaac De Gois returns after a stint in Newcastle. Knight Mark Taufua and Dragon Jon Green will provide added depth to the pack.
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[FONT=arial !important]Motivation for the new faces shouldn't be an issue. The likes of Gibbs and De Gois will feel they have plenty to prove after being bumped out of their former clubs by new star signings.
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[FONT=arial !important]It makes for a new-look forward pack for the men from the Shire - the idea is that this strength in depth should lighten the load significantly on Gallen this year.
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[FONT=arial !important]The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of BigPond Sport.[/FONT]

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Source: http://www.bigpondsport.com/will-ga...the-sharks/tabid/91/newsid/82901/default.aspx

 

[gando2230]

i honesty believe no if:

Carney can find the form he had a couple of years ago at no.6
Ross and Gibbs lead from the front.
Gardner remains injury free and attacks the footy with his speed.
Flanno can find some young kids from the NYC and NSW cup that will stand up in the NRL.

 

[Mark^Bastard]

Didn't carry them when we smashed the bunnies without him.

Jez steps up in Gal's absence.

It's up to Gal to let the team do their work.

 

[snowman]

i believe no, however, i believe he will try and do it all on his own, as that is the type of player he is

 

[A.Snowden]

I believe he has the perception that he has that standard to live up to each and every week. Does he need to? NO. Will he? i believe he will.

 

[Blair]

He doesn't try to run the whole show in rep games. And they are his best games. Hopefully he gets more help from the rest of the team this year and he can just inject himself when needed.

Personally I think he takes great pride in his workrate and probably plays in a fantasy league.