77 Facts About Paul Gallen

Paul Gallen is a former captain and representative of the New South Wales State of Origin team.

Paul Gallen has been the vice captain of Australia and played his whole NRL career with the Sharks, with whom he won the 2016 NRL Premiership.

Paul Gallen was the NRL's oldest player playing in 2018.

Paul Gallen played his junior rugby league for the Wentworthville Magpies and was in the Parramatta Eels junior system playing the S G Ball Cup before being overlooked by the Eels.

In June 2001, Paul Gallen made his NRL debut for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks against the Parramatta Eels in round 15 at Toyota Park.

Paul Gallen scored his first ever try at first-grade level during round 14 of the 2002 season - against the Canberra Raiders.

Paul Gallen made 21 appearances in his second season at first-grade level for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, scoring one try during the season.

Paul Gallen made a total of 17 first-grade appearances for the club in 2003, scoring five tries in the process.

Paul Gallen sustained an elbow injury during the match which ruled him out until round six of the competition.

Paul Gallen was the only player in round one to contest his charge.

In round 11 against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Paul Gallen scored an impressive two tries in his sides 30 points to 28 victory.

In round 24, Cronulla-Sutherland scored their biggest ever victory, scoring a 68 points to 6 win over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with Paul Gallen scoring a try.

Paul Gallen was presented the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks chairman's Award in 2005 by the club's President Barry Pierce after his impressive season where he led the NRL in both hit ups and off loads.

Paul Gallen ran 3,920 metres with the ball in 2005, more than any other player in the competition.

Paul Gallen ended up making his comeback within nine weeks which amazed Cronulla's medical staff as it was predicted it would take much longer than that.

Paul Gallen won his first ever representative jersey when he was selected to play for City in the annual City vs Country match.

The Prime Minister's XIII defeated Papua New Guinea 28 points to 8 at Port Moresby but Paul Gallen failed to be selected for the Australian Tri Nations squad.

In September 2006, just days after he was voted Cronulla supporters player of the year, Paul Gallen announced that he was considering leaving Cronulla despite having a year left on his contract.

Paul Gallen stated that it wasn't the club or coaching staff that made him consider leaving the club but rather the fact that "I just want to play semi-final football".

Paul Gallen stated that he was "looking for a fresh start and a fresh challenge".

In 2006, Paul Gallen made 18 appearances in first-grade for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, scoring seven tries for the club.

However, Paul Gallen decided to stay at the club, putting to rest the rumours in the media, by signing a four-year deal with Cronulla, meaning that he would stay at the club until 2011.

Paul Gallen reportedly turned down a $1.4 million offer from Manly in favor of a $1.1 million deal.

Paul Gallen stated that he decided to stay at the Sharks because he was inspired by Nathan Hindmarsh, who had recently signed a contract with the Eels in the aim to be a one-club man.

In round 6, against Canberra, Paul Gallen set up a try for Ben Pomeroy before he was forced from the field due to injury during the second half.

Paul Gallen was accused of taking a dive after copping a high shot by Richie Williams.

Paul Gallen defended the incident claiming that he "was hit in the head and it hurt".

However, Paul Gallen did manage to set up the first Sharks try for Mitch Brown.

In round 14 against New Zealand, Paul Gallen was again put on report by the referee after a head high tackle on Patrick Ah Van.

Cronulla had the bye in round 16 which meant that Paul Gallen had not had the previous two weeks to prove himself for selection in the third game of the series in State of Origin.

Paul Gallen, who was helped out by his teammates, then got into a fight with the opposition.

Paul Gallen was impressive in just his second State of Origin match.

However, it was announced barely a week before the match that Paul Gallen had to be pulled out of the squad due to a "shoulder injury", with his replacement being Melbourne Storm's Dallas Johnson.

Paul Gallen attracted attention after the round 3 clash with the Titans for "grubby" play.

Titans player Josh Graham claimed that Paul Gallen clutched his testicles in a tackle on Graham.

Paul Gallen was selected for all three games in the annual State of Origin series.

In round 18, Paul Gallen scored Cronulla's only try in the top of the table clash in which the Sharks lost to Manly by 34 points to 6.

Paul Gallen gave away several other penalties and claimed that the referees were targeting him.

In 2008, Paul Gallen represented Australia in the centennial test, scoring a try.

Paul Gallen was selected for Australia in the one-off test match against New Zealand on 8 May 2009.

In May 2009, Paul Gallen attracted public outrage for racially abusing Mickey Paea.

However, pre-empting this, on 1 June 2009, Paul Gallen voluntarily stepped down from his Cronulla captaincy.

In December 2009, Paul Gallen was issued with an infringement notice for urinating in public near the head of a drunken friend.

Paul Gallen was left out of the first match of the State of Origin side but was selected for the two remaining matches.

Paul Gallen was selected for all three games of the 2011 State of Origin series, as well as for Australia.

Paul Gallen scored his first try of the season in round 3, against the Panthers.

In State of Origin II Paul Gallen was controversially selected to play prop and became the first prop to play 80 minutes in an Origin match since Steve Price in 2007.

On 3 November 2011, the annual RLIF Awards dinner was held at the Tower of London and Paul Gallen was named lock forward of the year.

Paul Gallen again captained New South Wales for the 2012 State of Origin series, which was again won by Queensland.

At the 2012 Dally M Awards, Paul Gallen was named the NRL's lock forward of the year.

Paul Gallen was selected for Australia in the 2013 ANZAC Test and played at lock forward.

Paul Gallen was named captain of the New South Wales Blues for the 2013 State of Origin series.

Paul Gallen led his team to victory in game one at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, however the win was not without controversy, and Paul Gallen lodged a guilty plea to a striking charge for the undefended punches he landed on the head of Maroons forward, Nate Myles.

Paul Gallen had not been sent off for the infringement and this led to the introduction of a rule that players would be sin-binned for any punch thrown in future Origin matches.

On 22 August 2014, Paul Gallen was one of the Cronulla players who pleaded guilty to having unknowingly used banned peptides, and in exchange was given a reduced, backdated ban from ASADA and Sports Minister Peter Dutton for his part in the 2011 supplements scandal.

Paul Gallen captained the New South Wales team to victory over Queensland in the 2014 State of Origin series.

Paul Gallen again captained NSW in the State of Origin series.

Paul Gallen was again the captain of NSW for the series.

In 2017, Paul Gallen was named in The City side in the last ever City v Country representative match.

Paul Gallen did not feature in the match as he suffered an injury the previous week in Cronulla's victory over Penrith.

In October, Paul Gallen signed a one-year contract extension to stay at Cronulla for the 2019 season.

Paul Gallen's comments faced a negative reaction by former players such as Chris Walker and Mat Rogers.

On 10 March Paul Gallen rebuked Melbourne Player Cameron Smith and his calls for Melbourne's 2007 and 2009 premierships to be reinstated after Smith accused the NRL over double standards in relation to Cronulla's salary cap breaches.

Paul Gallen declined the contract offer, explaining that it would have a massive impact on him and his family and that he would want to stay loyal to Cronulla for the rest of his career.

Paul Gallen began his amateur boxing career in 2012 in part of a rugby league versus rugby union charity event in Auckland, New Zealand.

Paul Gallen received a three-round unanimous points victory over Elliot on debut.

Paul Gallen defeated Messam in a split decision over three two-minute rounds in Auckland.

In 2014, Paul Gallen turned professional after it was confirmed he would fight Australian-based Herman Ene-Purcell on the undercard of Daniel Geale versus Garth Wood.

Paul Gallen was awarded a technical knockout victory inside two rounds despite being dropped by a left hand in the first-round.

Paul Gallen was later scheduled to fight Anthony Watts, a former Cowboys, Sharks and Roosters utility National Rugby League player.

Paul Gallen extended his professional record with a second consecutive win after a first-round technical knockout victory.

Paul Gallen's fourth fight was another points decision victory over fellow-rugby league forward Bodene Thompson in a charity event at SkyCity Auckland.

On 20 December 2018, Paul Gallen agreed to return to the ring to fight former professional rugby league footballer John Hopoate with the match being scheduled for 9 February 2019.

Two more victories over Mark Hunt and Lucas Browne had Paul Gallen challenging Justis Huni for the Australian heavyweight title on 16 June 2021.

From 2013 until 2015, Paul Gallen was a panelist on SportsFan Clubhouse alongside Renee Gartner and Mieke Buchan and hosted by Bill Woods.

Paul Gallen has appeared sometimes on Sports Sunday and Nine's Rugby League Coverage.

In 2024, Paul Gallen would be named as part of the extended cast for ABC series Plum.