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Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...003409,00.html
Captain Gallen will fire up NSW
By David Riccio
March 07, 2009 11:00pm
Leader ... Paul Gallen has been tipped to skipper the Blues. / The Sunday Telegraph
AS rugby league firebrand Paul Gallen rolled around with his new baby girl Charly during the week, the Sharks skipper was anointed by past greats as the man to lead NSW in this year's State of Origin series.
NSW are desperate for an inspirational leader, a father figure to guide the baby Blues and stop Queensland from winning a fourth straight series.
Captaincy options are thin on the ground for a side lacking seasoned players. It's a turnaround from Origins past, when NSW had the talent and Queensland relied on spirit.
Now the Blues need to find inspiration and leading figures have identified Gallen as the man to follow Blues champions Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus as state skipper.
Former NSW forward and assistant coach John Cartwright and 1985 series-winning captain Steve Mortimer said Gallen could be catapulted from NRL villain to potential saviour of his state.
"He did a great job at Cronulla last year,'' Cartwright said.
"You look at any side, and that side can often reflect their leader.
"They (Sharks) were a tough, tenacious side that never gave in and I think often that comes from your captain, your leader. He's tailor-made for Origin and would lead that team by example no end.''
Aside from Gallen, who was appointed Sharks captain in 2007, Newcastle's Kurt Gidley and the Roosters' Braith Anasta are the only other club captains from coach Craig Bellamy's 2008 squad.
Gidley's utility status is unrivalled and he is sure to figure prominently in Bellamy's plans. However, he often starts from the interchange bench at the representative level, which would work against him.
Anasta, meanwhile, has never been able to nail down a regular spot at Origin level.
Bellamy has previously said he would consider appointing a captain who is not necessarily the leader of his club side, which could bring Roosters veteran Craig Fitzgibbon and Cronulla five-eighth Trent Barrett into his calculations.
As he confirmed his desire to lead NSW into a new era, Gallen spoke of the pain still felt from only ever tasting a series of defeats with NSW.
"I've lost every series I've been a part of since I made my debut,'' Gallen said.
"So it's something that doesn't sit too well with me.
"I'll be honest with you, it hadn't (the captaincy) crossed my mind until you asked me, with my entire focus being on helping take the Sharks one step further this year.
"And when you consider the talent and experienced players that we have at Cronulla, being the club captain is a big enough honour for me.
"But go and ask any young footy player growing up in NSW if they ever want to captain NSW, and the answer would be an absolute yes.''
Mortimer supported Gallen's captaincy claims while also suggesting a helter-skelter opening to the NRL season.
"If you can't perform for your club, you're not going to play rep football,'' Mortimer said.
"There's a good opportunity for many players here in those few first rounds to make an impression. It makes for some great footy.
"And I think if they're looking for a tough bloke who leads by example then, most definitely, Gallen suits.''
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