The numbers behind Paul Gallen’s journey to NRL grand final

THESE are the extraordinary statistics which have led warrior Paul Gallen to within 80 minutes of rugby league’s ultimate glory.

Wade Graham and Paul Gallen celebrate after beating the Cowboys to reach the NRL grand final. Picture: Gregg Porteous

THESE are the extraordinary statistics which have led warrior Paul Gallen to the cusp of Cronulla history.

And club stalwart Mitch Healey believes Gallen only needs one more accolade to be considered the greatest Shark of them all — an NRL premiership.

The Telegraph can reveal Gallen has run the football for an amazing 44.2 kilometres since making his Sharks NRL debut in 2001.

And for all his sweat, blood, injuries and pain, Gallen now finds himself just 80 minutes from rugby league’s ultimate glory.

Fox Sports Stats show Gallen played 19,220 minutes of punishing football over 278 first grade games. He has made 5298 runs for 44,232 metres and made 7324 tackles.

“The grand final will be enormous for Gal,” Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan said.

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Paul Gallen finds himself just 80 minutes from rugby league’s ultimate glory. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“He amazes me. I see what he does every week, coming in on days off for ice baths, stretches and he does more training than a lot of other people.

“I know why he has played 16 years at the top, State of Origin, it’s because of all the extra stuff he does.

“He doesn’t tell anyone about the extras but I see it.

“The extra recovery that he does. Sometimes he does too much and it hurts him. He has worked really hard through his whole career. He has been at the club for a long period of times, 16 years, not to play in a grand final. Now to captain a side in a grand final won’t top his career but this would be the icing, the cherry on top.”

Sharks captain Paul Gallen is eyeing off Cronulla’s maiden premiership.

Healey, who played 223 games for Cronulla, gave Gallen the ultimate accolade.

“If he can get the boys over the line he will certainly be remembered as the greatest-ever Shark,” Healey said.

Flanagan said Gallen and his teammates would be free to enjoy what was a special week for all footballers.

The Sharks coach has no plans to hide the players from fans or the media.

“We’re really looking forward to the week and are obviously excited about being in the grand final. It’s the first time in a long time for the club, first time for myself and a lot of players,” Flanagan said.

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“We can’t shut it down. The NRL have so many things that you’ve got to do. You don’t want the attitude of ‘I’ve got to do this’. You should do it because you want to do it.

“There are another 14 teams that would give their right arm to be where we are. I want the players to sit back and enjoy the week.”

Flanagan harbours no concerns about the pressure of a grand final affecting his young stars Jack Bird, Valentine Holmes or Sosaia Feki.

“The youngest one being Birdy, he has played Origin,” Flanagan said.

“I thought they handled last week really well. I was worried about the two-week lay-off but they all handled it really well. They are pretty cool customers, Birdy and Val, Feki, I don’t think it will affect them. Those boys are pretty switched on.”

Originally published as The numbers behind Paul Gallen’s journey to NRL grand final