The Monty Porter Medal winner, Sharks Player’s Player, selected as the Dally M Lock of the Year in a team judged the best of the best by a panel of former greats, Paul Gallen enjoyed another mighty year in 2017.
Despite his 36 years and 17 seasons in the NRL, Gallen still managed to push his body through all 25 of the Sharks games, while having a major impact each and every time he took to the field.
Joined the NRL’s ‘300 Club’ late in the year and with his statistics and numbers this past season indicating he still has plenty left to give in 2018, and perhaps beyond.
Of all at the Sharks, made the most runs, for the most metres, at an average of over 140 metres per game throughout the season, in displaying that age certainly hasn’t slowed him down.
Justifiably named as Captain of the Sharks Team of the Half Century, Gallen benefitted by his retirement from the Origin arena in having an abundance of energy and enthusiasm for the Sharks at club level right up until his team’s elimination in week one of the finals.
The inspirational leader at the Sharks, Gallen again led from the front in 2017.
Season highlight: It’s hard to select a stand out game for a man whose best game isn’t too far away from his worst, with Gallen’s career characterised by its consistency. His competitiveness and importance to the Sharks was never better emphasised than by his efforts in his teams round 26 win over Knights. Despite it being a match which would have little bearing on the top four, in what was Gallen’s 24th game of the 2017 season, he played 76 minutes, made 27 runs for 303 metres, added to seven off loads and 25 tackles. It was an inspirational performance but something Sharks fans have become accustomed to.
2017 Stats: Paul Gallen
Games played: 25
Tries: 3
Runs: 484
Average runs: 19.4
Run Metres: 4582
Average run metres: 143.28
Hit ups: 452
Average hit ups: 17.3
Off loads: 53
Tackles: 814
Average tackles: 17.3
