Title: Tall order for new Hodgson
galahs - March 9, 2009 06:21 AM (GMT)
Tall order for new Hodgson
By James Phelps | March 09, 2009 12:00am
SHANNON Gallant swears he stands 172cm tall and weighs 75kg. But the real size of the man in line to replace Brett Hodgson as Wests Tigers fullback remains a mystery.
According to teammates, Wests' mighty mouse could be the smallest player in the NRL.
There is no way of checking because he was such a long shot of playing for the Tigers this season that he doesn't rate a mention in the game's official media guide.
"How tall did he say he was?" Tigers captain Robbie Farah asked. "What? 172cm? No, that's a lie. He would be lucky to be 160cm. He is a very little fella."
Still on a part-time contract with the feeder club Western Suburbs Magpies, Gallant is locked in a battle with Shannon McDonnell to win the No. 1 jersey vacated by Hodgson.
Farah remains unfazed about Gallant becoming a target for NRL bombers trying to take advantage of having someone vertically challenged in the last line.
"I know it is a big statement, but I think he is the safest fullback I have ever seen," Farah said. "He is only small, tiny, but he has a massive ticker. What he lacks in size he makes up with heart. But he definitely has little-man syndrome. Big time."
With lightning speed, lethal step and safe hands, the 23-year-old was a stand-out for the Tigers in his two trial appearances.
"I think I went OK, but it will be up to (coach Tim) Sheens," Gallant said.
"I am just stoked to be a chance because Hodgson was one of my heroes. He was a Campbelltown junior like me, so I am stoked to have a shot at following in his footsteps, but they are big shoes to fill."
They are even bigger shoes when you consider he will compete with Gold Coast's Preston Campbell (75kg), Souths' Chris Sandow (78kg) and Penrith's Jarrod Sammut (78kg) for the title of the NRL's smallest player.
Gallant was signed by the Magpies when he was 13 :magpies: - and his teammates reckon he hasn't grown since.
"Daniel Fitzhenry called me Mighty Mouse when I first came here," he said. "He reckons I was one of the smallest blokes he had ever seen but still willing to take on anything bigger than me, like Mighty Mouse. It has been with me ever since."
By James Phelps | March 09, 2009 12:00am
SHANNON Gallant swears he stands 172cm tall and weighs 75kg. But the real size of the man in line to replace Brett Hodgson as Wests Tigers fullback remains a mystery.
According to teammates, Wests' mighty mouse could be the smallest player in the NRL.
There is no way of checking because he was such a long shot of playing for the Tigers this season that he doesn't rate a mention in the game's official media guide.
"How tall did he say he was?" Tigers captain Robbie Farah asked. "What? 172cm? No, that's a lie. He would be lucky to be 160cm. He is a very little fella."
Still on a part-time contract with the feeder club Western Suburbs Magpies, Gallant is locked in a battle with Shannon McDonnell to win the No. 1 jersey vacated by Hodgson.
Farah remains unfazed about Gallant becoming a target for NRL bombers trying to take advantage of having someone vertically challenged in the last line.
"I know it is a big statement, but I think he is the safest fullback I have ever seen," Farah said. "He is only small, tiny, but he has a massive ticker. What he lacks in size he makes up with heart. But he definitely has little-man syndrome. Big time."
With lightning speed, lethal step and safe hands, the 23-year-old was a stand-out for the Tigers in his two trial appearances.
"I think I went OK, but it will be up to (coach Tim) Sheens," Gallant said.
"I am just stoked to be a chance because Hodgson was one of my heroes. He was a Campbelltown junior like me, so I am stoked to have a shot at following in his footsteps, but they are big shoes to fill."
They are even bigger shoes when you consider he will compete with Gold Coast's Preston Campbell (75kg), Souths' Chris Sandow (78kg) and Penrith's Jarrod Sammut (78kg) for the title of the NRL's smallest player.
Gallant was signed by the Magpies when he was 13 :magpies: - and his teammates reckon he hasn't grown since.
"Daniel Fitzhenry called me Mighty Mouse when I first came here," he said. "He reckons I was one of the smallest blokes he had ever seen but still willing to take on anything bigger than me, like Mighty Mouse. It has been with me ever since."
Gobbs - March 9, 2009 08:02 AM (GMT)
"Here he comes to save the day!!" Good luck Shannon. Every Wests Tigers fan in their right mind knows your the right man for the vacated No.1 Jersey. All bias a side, Mighty Mouse is the best Fullback that Wests Tigers has in its ranks and if Coach Sheens can't see that, then it's the team's loss in my opinion.