I've remained fairly tight-lipped on the issue thus far. I haven't said much but here's my two cents worth.
The bloke has given an incredible amount to this club, that goes without saying. He's been our captain for almost a decade. It's quite an honour to have the NSW captain and Australian vice-skipper playing for us, no doubt about it.
But with this issue, I'm well and truly on the fence. I'm happy for him to stay, but at the same time if he goes I won't be too upset because he's been such a loyal servant to our club through our darkest times. Took the fall for us in the ASADA shit, like a true leader does, plays his guts out every single time he gets on the field in black, white and blue, like a true leader does. He cleaned up his image massively, and gained all his leadership qualities from this in my opinion.
His credibility as a player knows no bounds. He plays with his entire being, is willing to fight for every single bad refereeing call, makes that last ditch tackle, makes all the hard yards, often goes as an unsung hero in any given match.
Off the field, seems a decent bloke. Doesnt get into any trouble anymore, doesnt make a dick of himself. Great man to have as the face of our club.
On the other hand, the whole Origin thing does get to me. I'd take 10 years of QLD dominance in Origin just for one Sharkies premiership. All of us would. Gal sees Origin as his primary concern and, like 99% of Sharks supporters that is a questionable attitude to have as a captain of this club. He sits out 75% of our games because of an injury picked up in a representative fixture. Pisses me off to no end too, because we know what he does on the field and what he adds to the team on game day. However, we have shown that we can win without him countless times. Wade Graham is a more than capable leader of the future and when Gal eventually does leave, Wade will be the skipper of our great club. And what a better person to learn from then Gal?
The bloke will be a Sharks immortal, without question. Up there with the likes of Steve Rogers, ET, Gavin Miller, Les Davidson as one of our greatest players. If not the greatest Shark ever. But in my opinion that doesnt warrant him to think he's greater than the club.
Whatever you do next year Gal, you are very much adored in Sharkland and we thank you for more than a decade of exceptional service.
