Gallen’s 300th the culmination of the modern era’s best forward

The Peptide is turning. Up! Up! Peptide reference. As a rugby league fan, I've heard them all, so save it.

In my opinion, this Friday Night we will witness the 300th game of the man who should, rightfully, be known as the modern era's best forward in Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen.

Shane Flanagan recently suggested that Gallen could now be considered the greatest ever Shark in the club's 50-year history. Although the likes of Steve Rogers and ET may have a big say in that claim, Gallen is without any shadow of the doubt the best forward in the club's history.

By standing on the podium this past October 2nd and stating "turn your porch lights off because we're coming home with the trophy" Paul Gallen became a Sharks immortal, and no alleged sports scientist's mistakes can take away from that.

Only long suffering Sharks fans will remember that this is a man who almost literally carried the club on his own back for many years.

In times where stars were jumping ship at every opportunity, Gallen turned down a chance to walk into a premiership ready Manly side, only to re-sign with a club who by all rights would be lucky to still exist into the near future.

This is the man who single-handedly led NSW to Origin victories against the greatest rep footy side of all time, despite the fact his side often played sans a rep halfback.

Anybody remember the perfect 10 he received from RLW for yet another Origin master class or just the four weeks he sat out due to putting trust in someone who should have known better?

The Blues may very well have won another series in 2017 had Gallen not retired from rep footy to focus on leading his beloved Sharks to back to back Premiership titles.

All the talk pre series was about Mitchell Pearce's evolution, but the talk should have been about who could dig in and make those hard yards when all looked lost like Gallen did each and every time he pulled on the sky blue jersey.

Turns out no one could as Queensland's rookie forward pack did the job and laid the platform for Cooper Cronk to continue to press his immortal claims.

Paul Gallen, at almost 36 year's old, is still leading the competition's hit up tally. Insert smart ass peptide joke here if you want, but you know what that shows? Heart!

I can't name one player who would turn down a shot for well-paid premiership glory rather than grind it out in a seemingly hopeless situation just to show faith in his club?

A certain Wests Tigers captain sure didn't show Paul Gallen-esque loyalty and belief in his recent decision to defect.

A certain Eels number seven has been quoted in major papers as being happier and playing better footy after leaving a tough situation for greener pastures.

Meanwhile, it is Paul Gallen who is pictured holding the game's most sought after trophy, ending his club's premiership drought, that has been burned into the memories of all who saw that moment. Not to mention the statue that will be built outside Shark Park following the great man's retirement, IF he ever does retire.

So once again, I almost dare you to recycle the tired and worn out peptide jokes that saw the Sharks rise all the way to 15th place, but I challenge anyone, on footballing merit, to name one forward in the modern era who has done it tougher, yet produced more, than Sir Paul Gallen.