Thanks Sladden and Quigs I did fire it off, I put Gavin Miller in instead of Tommy.
It is ruthless, obsessional bastards who often get the glory.”
Quite true that comment.
However, it is the Sharks that have been on the receiving end of much, much worse foul play from ruthless bastards in the past. The Sharks have a history as a clean family club with players like Steve Rogers, Andrew Ettingshausen, Greg Peirce, Tawera Nikau, Gavin Miller, Rick Bourke, David Peachey, David Hatch, The Ox, Preston Campbell, Dean Triester, John Lang, Norm Provan, Alan Fitzgibbon, Ted Glossop and Martin Lang. All role models, all fine examples of clean players and great men who set an example for others to follow.
The Sharks have fought many battles just to survive, which surely is an illustration of positive values, of a community uniting behind its club in times of trouble. The club has been far from ruthless when you compare it to the win at all costs mentality of other clubs in the premiership such as the Bulldogs and Manly.
The Sharks can’t take a trick it seems, they are criticized for not embracing the culture change forced on it by Chris Anderson; of not adopting a harder edge like the ‘successful’ Bulldogs culture. Then a Shark’s player says that he wants to do whatever it takes to win, and the club and its whole history is painted as rotten. Quite a long bow to draw.
Your complete demolition the Shark’s club reputation and tarnishing its entire history and some of the fine players I have mentioned above is uncalled for.
“There is something rotten inside the culture of a club that has lurched through financial crises, internal divisions and not won a premiership in 40 years of trying, since it joined the competition in 1967, the worst record in the premiership.”
How is this relevant to Gallens actions? If you want to talk about rotteness, how about the acts of the Mark Budgens, Steve Mortimers, Terry Lambs and Andrew Farrars of this world, and the severity of their win at all costs cheap shots.
For a moment let’s compare Gallens grubbiness, which I don’t condone, to the potential criminality of the hit on Steve Rogers that left his bottom jaw hanging loose, or the hit on Mark Wakefield that basically ended the halfback's promising career. Speak to Anthony Laffranchi to see if he thinks Gallen’s actions warrant criminal action. There is no comparison, Rogers and Wakefield were sidelined for many, many weeks and Rogers did pursue civil action against Mortimer. Getting players out of the game; allegedly Terry Lamb was a champion at taking danger players out early in matches, but don’t ask Ellery Hanley because he can’t remember a thing. Or more recently what about John Hopoate’s hit on Keith Galloway. Head butting, eye gouging, squirrel gripping? Minor infractions to the real ruthless players.
Or then perhaps your agenda is much deeper dislike for the game of Rugby League and a love for the interminable ruck and rolling mall.
