Paul Gallen’s been called a lot of things during his in 19-year NRL career - and you can now add one more title to the list
Salesman.
And a very persuasive salesman, at that.
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As their captain prepares to play his last game at Shark Park, some of the club’s biggest signings of the past decade have revealed the role Gallen played in getting them to the Shire club.
Wade Graham tops the list of topline recruits, lured from Penrith in 2011 just as North Queensland zeroed in on their man.
A phone call out of the blue from Gallen changed everything.
“There was interest from other clubs and it came down to North Queensland and Cronulla,” Graham said on Thursday.
“I was leaning towards North Queensland. I was playing in the halves back then and the opportunity to go and learn outside JT was a big opportunity.
“But Gal’s phone call sparked me coming to Cronulla.
“It was a big vote of confidence for a young fella to have the captain of the Sharks, the captain of NSW and the vice-captain of Australia wanting you to come down and play at the club and try to be successful together.
“He let me know his vision for the club and what he thought I could add to the club.
“A lot of his values mirrored what was in my head. I’d see the vision and felt it.
“It was a player to player thing. He sold the club well and gave me confidence in myself.
“He was really hands on in recruiting me across to the club.
“That was definitely a clincher for me.”
Josh Morris knew Gallen well through his time with the NSW Origin side and often bumped him in the Shire, where they both reside.
The pair talked about playing club football together, but Morris didn’t think it would happen until it became a victim of Canterbury’s salary cap clean-out last year.
“Whenever I saw Gal, he’d been trying to get me across the whole time,” Morris said.
“One of the main reasons (I came here) was to play alongside Gal and I’m sure that would be the case for most of the boys.
“To be able to come to a club and play with Gal is very enticing.”
Prop Aaron Woods was another to get the phone call treatment when it became clear he had no future at the Bulldogs.
“Things didn’t work out at the Dogs and when I found out the Sharks were keen he (Gallen) just rang up and said, ‘what’s taking you so long?’” Woods said
“He just said ‘c’mon mate, you need to play finals footy again, when are you getting here?’
“He was a big factor (in me coming). He made me feel welcome when I first came here.”
Utility back Josh Dugan saw what Gallen could bring to a team during several Origin campaigns and was keen to experience it on a weekly basis.
That opportunity arose in 2018.
He said: “Gal was one of the big reasons I came here. He was at the forefront of the club for a while and he’s been attraction to play with one of the toughest in the NRL.
“He’s a tough old bastard who has done a lot for the club.
“He kept the Sharks on the map. He’s always an attraction for players coming here.”