We gave it a good crack under trying circumstances.
Yeah, I was devastated at the time, but to go so close missing your key half was a pretty good effort.
I really gave us no chance that series, and Gallen was a large part of why we went as far as we did (the game before where we "cheated" to win, according to some deluded fans, and that game, he was a standout).
Gallen is the best forward of the modern era (except perhaps Smith, but he is really a half) and has been for a decade. He was consistently the best or one of the top 2 or 3 when he played for Australia and for NSW, and he is almost always one of the best 2 or 3 on the field at first grade level, for 300 games.
Thurston is not, and never has been as consistent as Gallen (though he is certainly more brilliant on his day), the only other modern players I'd put at his level are Slater and Smith (who are also both stupidly consistent, though Slater took a few years to warm up, Gallen and Smith were excellent from early on).
ET was an outstanding centre, and servant of the club, but nowhere near as good as Gallen as a player. Probably as influential in his time, but not as good as a player, brilliant though he was.
I only saw Rogers as a kid, and only his "bad years" (with the enemy) so my perceptions are skewed by inexperience when I think on him.
The 2016 year Gallen was brilliant as always, even though he was injured a bit, though you could argue we needed him less as everyone else stepped up (as shown by the Canberra final). But he was immense as ever in the next two games.
Obviously I am a huge fan of Gallen, but I think he is seriously under rated, despite most people acknowledging he is a great player. I don't think many actually realise how great he is. Gould's nonsense agenda has influenced many into dismissing his Origin play, and the ASADA scandal has made many think his efforts were helped by cheating.
I know a coach's job is to talk up their players, but I think Flanagan has shown he is both a good student of the game, and not one to give extreme praise all that often. I can't disagree with his claim that Gallen is the best Shark.
