NRL fans fume over ‘embarrassing’ Paul Gallen gaffe

NRL legend Paul Gallen has riled up footy fans with a barely believable live TV blunder that’s left some wondering if he watches games.

NRL great Paul Gallen has riled up NRL fans with a barely-believable on-air gaffe in which he mistook Thursday’s Roosters v Panthers game as Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ 300th – despite that milestone match being highly publicised the week before.

The incident occurred immediately following Penrith’s impressive 22-16 victory over the Roosters on Thursday night, as Gallen took to the field to conduct player interviews in his role on Nine’s NRL coverage.

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The 348-game Sharks legend secured an interview with star Roosters fullback James Tedesco, before asking if JWH would be disappointed with a loss in his 300th game.

“And what about big Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 300 games tonight, a little bit disappointed, what’s he meant to this club?” Gallen asked.

Tedesco was quick to correct the NRL great over the blunder, saying “last week, (was) his 300th game.”

“I’m sorry I thought it was this week, my bad, what’s he meant to the club though,” Gallen said in reply.

You can watch the embarrassing gaffe in the video above

Paul Gallen has come under fire. Pic: Nine

NRL fans watching on at home could barely believe the Gallen gaffe, given Waerea-Hargreaves’ 300th game was one of the main storylines from the previous week’s action.

The Roosters had in fact given their beloved front-rower plenty to be happy about the previous Friday in Round 3 as they obliterated arch rivals South Sydney 48-6.

Popular NRL mega fan The Oracle was particularly scathing of Gallen’s blunder, saying everyone knew JWH had played his 300th the previous week.

“What planet has Paul Gallen been on?” The Oracle wrote.

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME. As everyone knows, JWH played his 300th game last week.

“I mean, how could you miss it. Remember v Souths, all the fanfare etc.”

NRL fan Greg Wiscombe added in response: “Really showing their knowledge of the games. What an embarrassment.”

“I’m not sure how he gets that wrong. Lack of preparation with questions or just plain ignorant,” NRL fan Sandy wrote.

A fourth fan wrote: “It was easy to miss, it’s not like there was massive media coverage and a giant 300 sign painted on the... field last week.”

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves thanks fans following his 300th match, during the round three NRL match between Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the NRL Bunker was the big talking point of the Roosters v Panthers match after Penrith showed why they’re the three-time defending premiers with a dominant win over a very disappointing Roosters side, but the result has been overshadowed by a couple of howlers that hurt both sides.

Graham Annesley did well to explain on Monday why Jake Trbojevic had been penalised for an obstruction last week, but you get the feeling he’ll be admitting Bunker official Chris Butler made a mistake to disallow a Joseph Manu try.

Manu’s spectacular put down will be forgotten by the end of the month because the Bunker ruled that Jared Waerea-Hargreaves stopped in the line and prevented Dylan Edwards from getting there, even though the fullback was pretty much in another postcode to where the try was scored.

The baffling call would have infuriated Roosters fans who then saw Sunia Turuva score the second of his three tries even though Luke Keary had been obstructed.

There was a massive square up just before halftime when Sitili Tupouniua pounced on a Sam Walker grubber, but replays showed there was clear separation between his hands and the ball.

While they’ll feel aggrieved with some of the decisions, the Roosters only have themselves to blame with the hosts coughing up far too much ball and looking nothing like the team that belted the Bunnies a week ago.

CLOUD NINE

They say cats have nine lives, but these Panthers have now won nine in a row against the Roosters who seemingly have no answers to their speed, size and skill.

Even without some of their premiership heroes, Penrith’s stars all stood tall with Dylan Edwards leading from the front with a game-high 223 metres and a superb solo try off a grubber kick.

There were nice moments throughout the night with Mavrik Geyer making his NRL debut in front of a bay of friends and family, while Taylan May put a big hit on his brother which forced an error out of Terrell.

Dylan Edwards was on fire. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

HALL OF PAIN

The NRL has already lost some of its biggest stars to long-term injuries, but thankfully Liam Martin hasn’t joined that list after the Panthers back-rower overcame an early shoulder injury to return in the second half.

Panthers fans were cheering when winger Sunia Turuva crashed over in the right corner to give them an early 6-0 lead, but they wouldn’t have noticed Martin on the sidelines who came off with a right shoulder injury after he landed heavily in a tackle.

Martin went straight up the Allianz Stadium tunnel, with Penrith already missing premiership stars Nathan Cleary, James Fisher-Harris and Scott Sorensen for the Roosters clash.

But the doctors quickly ruled out anything serious, cut off his jersey, put some extra padding on the AC joint and gave him jersey No.24, with the rep star returning just after the break.

HOSPITAL PASS

Brad Schneider came in for Cleary and controlled the game beautifully, but he had a moment he’d rather forget when he threw halves partner Jarome Luai under the bus with the mother of all hospital passes.

It’s actually a miracle Luai didn’t end up in the hospital after his ribs were smashed into oblivion by Manu who had all the time in the world to line him up.

Luai dropped the ball and got up smiling, but it wasn’t a laughing matter with the Roosters crossing just before halftime to open their account, with the hosts then scoring twice at the death to set up a grandstand finish.

-With NCA Newswire

Originally published as NRL fans fume over ‘embarrassing’ Paul Gallen gaffe