Manly Sea Eagles forward Joe Galuvao proves Russell Crowe wrong
by: Paul Crawley
From: The Daily Telegraph
September 28, 2011 12:00AM
All smiles: Manly's Joe Galuvao, here enjoying a word in the ear of teammate Anthony Watmough, has bounced back to prove Russell Crowe wrong Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph
SOMETIMES, it pays to get a second opinion. Joe Galuvao needed one four years back.
That was after Russell Crowe told him he had no future in footy - and that he should consider retiring to become a religious minister.
Since then big Joe has played in a grand final for Parramatta and is now four days away from playing another for Manly.
This is how it sometimes works in league, and life. When a bloke is prepared to pick himself up off the deck, even when he has a foot on his throat.
At the Sea Eagles, they tell you this 33-year-old veteran is their lucky charm. This will be Joe's third grand final at three different clubs, after winning a comp with Penrith in 2003.
Yet the man himself tells you he's just an average Joe.
The grand final hero who still catches a train and bus to work.
From his home at St Marys, Joe says it's an hour and a half each way on public transport.
"Cost effective," he explained. "I was spending like $300 just on gas and tolls a week.
"Now I pay $200 a month for a ticket that gets me on trains, buses ... you'd be surprised how many of the younger guys do it.
"Maybe not the big NRL stars but it doesn't bother me."
At Manly they love how he always arrives at training wearing a smile. But he admits he wasn't smiling when told he was no longer needed at Souths.
"I was angry and I was pretty bitter at the fact they discarded me," he recalled. "At the time it hurt ... but I talked to my wife and with my church and my pastors and they helped me.
"I knew why they were doing it and it was all business - but at the end of the day I got through it and I am better for it."
They say Joe never complains, that's why youngsters like Daly Cherry-Evans look to him for advice. The NRL Rookie of the Year was at training this week, surrounded by about 20 reporters and cameras, when he brought up Joe's name. He told how Joe's experience was helping the young halfback through the biggest week of his career.
He also helps troubled teenagers through his work at the church. Joe has survived more than his share of setbacks.
He lost his mother when he was seven and was raised by his father and five sisters. He admits his teenage years were tough.
"You get involved in drinking and partying," he said. "When I was on the drink I was pretty wild and I guess alcohol and me didn't mix too well. I got into fights and thought I was pretty tough. I could have easily ended up somewhere I didn't want to be but fortunately for me league was a great avenue."
So was church. That's where Joe turned to when one of his mates committed suicide.
"He was the most loving guy and happiest guy you would ever know but no one knows to this day why he did it," he recalled.
"It just made me really question life and what am I living for?
"I had a few friends that started going to church and I started going and just the values and principles I learned help me. "I think that is one of the greatest things for me, knowing that there is someone to talk to. And especially with footy, you can have lots of highs and lows."
Then he smiles, like there's no regrets. Some guys make their own luck. Big Joe's proof of that.
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