Paul Gallen claims ARL Player of the Year Award

[boxhead]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...avy-medal-jacket/story-e6frexnr-1225975149141

Paul Gallen values his heavy medal jacket

• EXCLUSIVE by Phil Rothfield, Sports Editor-at-large
• From: The Daily Telegraph
• December 23, 2010 12:00AM
• 13 comments

Award ... Cronulla enforcer Paul Gallen. Picture: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph

Forward star ... Paul Gallen. Source: The Daily Telegraph



A YEAR ago his reputation was in tatters but last night Kangaroo enforcer Paul Gallen was celebrating one of the most prestigious awards in the game - the Harry Sunderland Medal - as the Australian Rugby League player of the year.


The Daily Telegraph broke the news to the shocked Cronulla skipper at training yesterday where he was watching his teammates in their final session for the year.

The award was supposed to be presented to the champion back-rower after the Four Nations final but officials decided to delay the presentation until next year because of the bitter disappointment of losing the final to the Kiwis.

"I'm that happy and feel so privileged to win it," Gallen said when we broke the news to him.

"I can't believe it. It's the biggest award I've got. It's an honour to play alongside so many great players, let alone win anything like this."

The award is judged by coach Tim Sheens, his coaching staff and team management and has been won by many of the true legends of the game including Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer, Johnny Raper, Billy Smith, Ron Coote and Billy Slater since its inception in the 1960s.


So prestigious is the Harry Sunderland Medal that it is only awarded at the discretion of the ARL. This is also a major step for Gallen towards winning the NSW State of Origin captaincy next year under his former Sharks coach Ricky Stuart.

What an amazing turnaround it has been over the past 12 months for the former NRL bad boy.

He was sacked as Sharks captain and replaced by Trent Barrett 18 months ago over the racial abuse of Dragons forward Mickey Paea and was in the headlines exactly a year ago when police caught him urinating in the street after a Christmas party.

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan, who has reappointed Gallen as club captain for next season, says the award from the Australian Rugby League is richly deserved.

"Gal has been sensational both on and off the field," Flanagan said. "He's now one of the great leaders and great players in rugby league.

"There is not a tougher or more inspirational person in the game and he has worked very hard behind the scenes with children and in the community, always for the right reasons and not for the publicity."

Good on ya Gal!!!
Thoroughly deserved.

 

[Russell Crowe's Band]

go gal

 

[Pierced Soul]

Hopefully people will start recognising his skills and realise that he's gotten away from a lot of the crap in his game in the past few years.

 

[Special K]

legend

 

[newman]

Well done to the Don Bradman of Rugby League. A well deserved accolade.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Unlike some players who do 50 tackles a game being the 3rd man, and the commentators rave about them(not mentioning Hindmarsh or Tongue lol.)

This guy is as tough as anything with great hit ups and busting defence.

And as mentioned his got the greg bird out of his game.

Thoroughly deserved.

 

[Whos Ya Daddy]

Absolute machine. His stats are incredible. Thoroughly deserved.

 

[carcharias]

25th Jan..........announcement imminent.

I am sure all league fans fingers are crossed.

 

[roboshark]

Great stuff Gal....well done

 

[Joker's Wild]

The bloke is only relatively small too. I got his autograph at the NSW camp at Kingscliff and he dead set only came up to my chin.

Love him or hate him, you cannot deny he is a genuine hard nut of our great game. Well done Gal

 

[gUt]

Well deserved.

 

[adamkungl]

Good stuff, congrats

 

[boxhead]

For mine, he should not only claim the Sharks captaincy, but he is odds-on for the NSW captaincy. Has really gone to another level this year.

 

[snoozer]

apparently he's overrated.

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=368762

 

[Hutty1986]

How he didn't get a dally M is beyond me. Just needs to get the stupid penalties out of his game and will be a big asset for NSW next year

 

[drake]

Gallen plays his heart out every game. Congrats.

 

[grouch]

The quantity is there in terms of workload, but I think that can often be to the detriment of his club. Needs to focus on quality work. Has definitely cut much of the rubbish out of his game though and is a better player for it

 

[boxhead]

grouch, did you see his Kangaroos appearances this season? Was far and away one of the top three Australian players throughout the year, not only because of his workload but because of the quality of his contribution. He didn't fluke this award, he deserved it as much as he deserved to be the top forward in the Dally M voting.

 

[imasharkie]

sharkies legend and our leader next season and beyond.

Go Gal

 

[Spot On]

....and yet some league fans don't rate this bloke's playing ability?????????? FMD. Legend. Freakish workload. Tough bastard. Born to play this game. Wish we had him at Newcastle.