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Maroons see red after low blow
Adrian Proszenko and Josh Rakic | June 14, 2009
THESE are the incidents which threaten to ignite Origin II.
The Queensland camp is still livid over acts of foul play involving Blues firebrand Paul Gallen during the final game of last year's series. The Sun-Herald can reveal that Gallen squeezed the testicles of fellow enforcer Michael Crocker - on at least two separate occasions - and then pleaded with him to cover up the incidents.
The first incident occurred in the 39th minute of the decider. Crocker took a regulation hit-up when his progress was slowed in a three-man tackle involving Willie Mason, Anthony Tupou and Gallen. Slow-motion footage confirms that Gallen grabbed a defenceless Crocker in the crotch with his right hand.
It was not an isolated incident.
The former Cronulla captain also applied a "squirrel grip" in the final minutes of the match.
The almost certain inclusion of Gallen into the NSW side for Origin II will ensure a spiteful battle between the NRL's most volatile and feared forwards. Crocker was livid that Gallen - voted the NRL's biggest niggler in The Sun-Herald's player poll last year - stooped to such sordid tactics to gain an advantage. The act also enraged the Maroons camp and it's understood Gallen will be targeted at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday week.
Gallen's "Crocker Shocker" debacle is well-known in Maroons circles but has only received scant attention in the media. The only reference was by respected Herald journalist Roy Masters, who wrote of the incident last September: "Cronulla captain Paul Gallen, who incurred three penalties in the match, was later asked by a journalist to elaborate on a flare-up with Crocker, who played for Queensland. Gallen dismissed it as of no consequence The Cronulla captain asked Crocker to cover up the incident - a case of testicle grabbing - should the pesky journalist persist. It's not known precisely what Crocker told Gallen but he was advised by some Storm coaches to shout it from the rooftops if the offence was repeated."
The Queenslanders were already incensed with Gallen over the ANZ Stadium dramas but he painted a fresh target on his head in Cronulla's loss to St George Illawarra last month. The NRL fined him $10,000 for an alleged racial slur aimed at Dragons forward Mickey Paea - but didn't rub him out of the code's premier event. Only a shoulder injury prevented him from taking his place in the opening game in Melbourne.
That outcome angered several of the Maroons with indigenous or islander heritage. Centre Justin Hodges declared before Origin I: "Maybe he probably might need a tougher penalty than that."
Pressed on whether he deserved to play in Origin I, Hodges said: "No. But, in saying that, he is a great player and one of the best players they've got as well, so for us it's probably a little bit sad to still see him there. But that's all right, we can take care of him."
Maroons coach Mal Meninga described Gallen as an "aggressive beast" on the field, while veteran prop Petero Civoniceva, when asked if he had a problem playing against someone who made such comments, replied: "Yes, for sure."
And now the Maroons will have their chance for revenge next week at Homebush Bay.
The Crocker incident isn't the only time Gallen has been accused of testicle grabbing. Gold Coast utility Josh Graham accused him of grabbing him by the "wheels" in last year's round-three encounter at Skilled Park. The incident was examined by the NRL match review committee but it found insufficient evidence to lay a charge.
"He grabbed my wheels [testicles] and gave them a bit of squeeze, 100 per cent," Graham said at the time.
"I looked at the ref [Jason Robinson] and said: 'What's doing'.
"I wasn't so much cranky but shocked. It's never happened to me before. He didn't just grab one 'wheel'. He grabbed the whole package and it hurt at the time."
Gallen denied the accusation, stating at the time: "I definitely didn't do it. They [Gold Coast] are doing their best to hammer me. The match review committee cleared me."
Attempts to contact Gallen were unsuccessful.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/maroons-see-red-after-low-blow/2009/06/13/1244664890599.html
Adrian Proszenko and Josh Rakic | June 14, 2009
THESE are the incidents which threaten to ignite Origin II.
The Queensland camp is still livid over acts of foul play involving Blues firebrand Paul Gallen during the final game of last year's series. The Sun-Herald can reveal that Gallen squeezed the testicles of fellow enforcer Michael Crocker - on at least two separate occasions - and then pleaded with him to cover up the incidents.
The first incident occurred in the 39th minute of the decider. Crocker took a regulation hit-up when his progress was slowed in a three-man tackle involving Willie Mason, Anthony Tupou and Gallen. Slow-motion footage confirms that Gallen grabbed a defenceless Crocker in the crotch with his right hand.
It was not an isolated incident.
The former Cronulla captain also applied a "squirrel grip" in the final minutes of the match.
The almost certain inclusion of Gallen into the NSW side for Origin II will ensure a spiteful battle between the NRL's most volatile and feared forwards. Crocker was livid that Gallen - voted the NRL's biggest niggler in The Sun-Herald's player poll last year - stooped to such sordid tactics to gain an advantage. The act also enraged the Maroons camp and it's understood Gallen will be targeted at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday week.
Gallen's "Crocker Shocker" debacle is well-known in Maroons circles but has only received scant attention in the media. The only reference was by respected Herald journalist Roy Masters, who wrote of the incident last September: "Cronulla captain Paul Gallen, who incurred three penalties in the match, was later asked by a journalist to elaborate on a flare-up with Crocker, who played for Queensland. Gallen dismissed it as of no consequence The Cronulla captain asked Crocker to cover up the incident - a case of testicle grabbing - should the pesky journalist persist. It's not known precisely what Crocker told Gallen but he was advised by some Storm coaches to shout it from the rooftops if the offence was repeated."
The Queenslanders were already incensed with Gallen over the ANZ Stadium dramas but he painted a fresh target on his head in Cronulla's loss to St George Illawarra last month. The NRL fined him $10,000 for an alleged racial slur aimed at Dragons forward Mickey Paea - but didn't rub him out of the code's premier event. Only a shoulder injury prevented him from taking his place in the opening game in Melbourne.
That outcome angered several of the Maroons with indigenous or islander heritage. Centre Justin Hodges declared before Origin I: "Maybe he probably might need a tougher penalty than that."
Pressed on whether he deserved to play in Origin I, Hodges said: "No. But, in saying that, he is a great player and one of the best players they've got as well, so for us it's probably a little bit sad to still see him there. But that's all right, we can take care of him."
Maroons coach Mal Meninga described Gallen as an "aggressive beast" on the field, while veteran prop Petero Civoniceva, when asked if he had a problem playing against someone who made such comments, replied: "Yes, for sure."
And now the Maroons will have their chance for revenge next week at Homebush Bay.
The Crocker incident isn't the only time Gallen has been accused of testicle grabbing. Gold Coast utility Josh Graham accused him of grabbing him by the "wheels" in last year's round-three encounter at Skilled Park. The incident was examined by the NRL match review committee but it found insufficient evidence to lay a charge.
"He grabbed my wheels [testicles] and gave them a bit of squeeze, 100 per cent," Graham said at the time.
"I looked at the ref [Jason Robinson] and said: 'What's doing'.
"I wasn't so much cranky but shocked. It's never happened to me before. He didn't just grab one 'wheel'. He grabbed the whole package and it hurt at the time."
Gallen denied the accusation, stating at the time: "I definitely didn't do it. They [Gold Coast] are doing their best to hammer me. The match review committee cleared me."
Attempts to contact Gallen were unsuccessful.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/maroons-see-red-after-low-blow/2009/06/13/1244664890599.html
