Player Review: Paul Gallen

Player Review: Paul GALLEN
Age: 31 | NRL Debut: 2001 | NRL Career Games: 216

2012 Recap:
Was gigantic in practically every game he played for the Sharks and he was the standout performer as Cronulla won six games straight from Round 3 to Round 8, to setup their return to the playoffs.
There are a host of stats we can quote to describe his season, but to get a strong appreciation for Gallen’s importance to the team - these are his run/metre stats from 16 starts in 2012.
R1: 21 for 167m
R2: 23 for 189m
R3: 30 for 249m
R4: 25 for 248m (with a season high 11 tackle breaks)
R5: 32 for 254m (both were a season high, as were his 6 offloads)
R6: 29 for 215m (he also made 41 tackles)
R7: 28 for 201m
R8: 25 for 208m
R9: 16 for 116m (he played just 55 minutes)
R13: 17 for 136m
R22: 20 for 183m
R23: 22 for 191m
R24: 24 for 233m
R25: 28 for 226m
R26: 17 for 166m
EF: 17 for 119m
And keep in mind that he played that second half of the season with injuries that didn’t allow him to train with the team.
His season high in tackles was 41 in Round 6 against St George Illawarra (he made at least 25 tackles in nine of his 16 games) and he conceded just four penalties during the regular season.
Would captain New South Wales to a 2-1 Origin Series loss to Queensland, and held his spot in the Australian team for both Tests with New Zealand. He topped his club year off by taking out the Tommy Bishop Players’ Player Award.

2012 STATISTICS:
Games: 16
Tries: 3
Assists: 4
Runs/Metres: 23.3 for 193.6m per game
Tackles: 27.1 per game
Line Breaks: 4
Line Break Assists: 9
Tackle Breaks: 76
Offloads: 52
DT Points: 981 @ 65.4 ppg

What games did you think Paul Gallen stood out in this past season? Let us know in the comments below.

2013 Prospects:
While he may remain on the team-sheet in the #13 jumper, his coach Shane Flanagan has already suggested he will play more front row than backrow in 2013. Will use the off-season to rehabilitate the injuries he carried for much of this year but there is no reason to believe he won’t be 100% by the time the new year rolls around.