Doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of Gale because we had no choice.
For twenty years the game has concentrated on muscular robots. These robots are to be led by tame ringmasters with little spark of their own.
We ran out of our own little Generals who could think for themselves years ago, the last imho being Broughy.
Since then we’ve been filling the gaps with second rate Aussies or attempting to convert Loose Forwards.
Now it’s come home to roost. Gale isn’t just the best he’s the only one out there. For all his flaws and his age we are signing a player who at the very least believes in himself and has the experience to do so. Whether Gale can still do it who knows, but at least he might try - that makes him almost unique in our squad. I don’t doubt Lino tries but it no substitute for it actually working.
This is the last throw of the dice and it needs to be a double six. So I suggest we all shut up, back the bloke, and pray it works