Gallen's captaincy hanging by a thread

Richard Maxton | rugbyleaguelive.com | 04/07/08 | 0

New South Wales enforcer Paul Galle is on the verge of losing the Cronulla captaincy because of his uncontrolled on-field antics.

Sharks coach Ricky Stuart has admitted he is under pressure to take the captaincy from the Blues hardman after he gave away three unsavoury penalties in Wednesday's Origin decider, helping swing the match over to the Maroons in their 16-10 win.

Stuart says he is resisting the push from within the club to sack Gallen but it understood he is skating on thin ice.

"I went out on a limb and made him captain and I need his support in changing it around," Stuart told News Ltd.

Stuart said he had been on Gallen's case long before the latest incidents and was confident he could "turn him around".

"He is the sort of bloke that players enjoy playing alongside and he is a good tough football player, but he has to be smarter on the football field and he could be."

"He doesn't want to be a liability for the team."

Gallen is well know for his brainsnaps. Earlier this year he copped a three week suspension after raking a bandage off the Titans' Anthony Laffranchi.

He was accused of grabbing Josh Graham's testicles in the same match, but escaped suspension over the claims.

A fortnight ago he received a lashing from Parramatta boss Denis Fitzgerald after slapping Josh Cordoba, who was apparently suffering from concussion.

Stuart said the public anger over Gallen's actions in Wednesday night's game was clear.

"I am sure Paul's aware of it," Stuart said. "He is an intelligent enough person to know that that would be the public's opinion today.

"The thing is he is a better bloke than what the perception out there is of him. It's just up to him to show people that from here on in."

Gallen was penalised for holding down in a tackle, a late hit on kicker Johnathan Thurston and a high tackle on Mick Crocker.

The Thurston penalty allowed the Maroons to level the scoreboard at 10-10.

The Crocker penalty late in the game gave Queensland easy yardage out of their own 20m and nearly lead to a Billy Slater try after a cheeky stab from Cameron Smith.

I went out on a limb and made him captain and I need his support in changing it around. Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart