Galea feels desperate to extend career into play-offs

The well-respected Australian back-row announced this week that he will retire at the end of the campaign after Rovers declined to give him a new deal.

Galea, who has earned legendary status during his five years in East Hull, was fully expecting to have one last shot at the play-offs and perhaps even upset the odds to reach Old Trafford.

Hull KR were the main benefactors last month from Bradford Bulls’ points deduction, nudging up into the top eight at their rivals’ expense.

However, currently embroiled in a wretched run of just one win in seven games, Craig Sandercock’s side seem in real danger of throwing that gift away and missing out entirely on the end-of-season finale.

Tomorrow’s visitors, who conversely are bidding for a fifth successive win, are chasing them down hard.

Another victory for Wakefield, allied to Bradford losing at Huddersfield, would see them replace Rovers in the eight with just two more games then left to go.

But undaunted Bulls, so far, also refuse to go away, all of which leaves Galea fully realising the significance of the 80 minutes ahead.

“This is probably our most important game of the year,” he admitted.

“If we don’t win this week we can probably kiss our finals chances goodbye.

“We’re going to have to play well; Wakefield are obviously playing fantastic so it’s all hands on deck.

“They have a lot of threats so we do obviously have to worry about them. But I think if we can sort our own game out – we’ve had a bit of an up-and-down few weeks – we can perform really well and be in the game.”

For all their recent sequence of results makes difficult reading for Rovers fans, it masks just how close some of their games have been.

The decline started when they somehow managed to sacrifice a winning position to lose 13-10 in the crazy final stages of a home game with Catalan back in June.

Since then they have endured similarly narrow defeats at home to Salford (24-22) and Leeds Rhinos (25-24) while falling by just six at St Helens (34-28) and, last Friday, Bradford (32-26).

The only time Rovers have been utterly outplayed was another home loss in the derby against Hull FC.

It will aggravate their followers to think about where they could be in the table but, at the same time, offers a reminder they are not far from delivering on their potential.

Galea, who won the NRL Grand Final with Wests Tigers in 2005, conceded: “I’m not sure how many games it’s been this season but I’m sure there’s been two or four points in five or six matches.

“If you add 10 points on to our league tally we’d be flying.

“But that’s the way it goes unfortunately. We’ve lost those games and so we’ve an uphill battle over the next three weeks.

“If we win all three, though, we know we’re in the finals. That’s our main goal. We need to win every game and we’re getting our heads down to do that.

“Once in the finals the comp’ starts again. We know if we work hard over these next three weeks, none of what happened before will matter.”

Rovers’ cause has not been aided by a debilitating injury list – “I’ve never played in a team that’s had so much misfortune in one season” – but that should be assuaged by the return of key forwards Rhys Lovegrove, Jason Netherton and Con Mika, all included in their 19-man squad for tomorrow.

There will be some familiar faces in the Wakefield ranks with ex-Hull KR wingers Ben Cockayne and Peter Fox each making their first return to Craven Park.

“They are both playing really well for them at the moment – better than anyone – and we’re going to have to be really strong to hold their threat,” added Galea, who pinpointed the half-back pairing of Paul Sykes and Tim Smith as another potent force.

“Their attacking game has been outstanding and their kicking game has been great too. We’ll have to defend really well and put a lot of pressure on their halves.”

On his retirement, the 34-year-old admitted: “I’ve still got that empty feeling in my stomach.

“I wanted to play one more year and am really disappointed not to get that opportunity.

“I will have to get another job – we don’t get paid like footballers – but without doubt my time here at Hull KR has been brilliant.

“I’m very grateful and I’ll take a lot of great memories and friendships with me.”

Galea, who did not want to join another Super League club if it meant uprooting his family or spending hours on a motorway, will return to Australia where he hopes to secure a strength and conditioning coaching role, possibly with former club Wests.

Meanwhile, Rovers stand-off Blake Green continues to be linked with a move to Wigan Warriors for 2013 despite the injured Australian still having two years remaining on his contract.

Penrith Panthers’ Travis Burns is reportedly lined up as his replacement at Craven Park.

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