Galea saddened by failure to clinch new deal with Robins

The Australian second-row, 33, will leave at the end of the season following an excellent five-year stint at Craven Park.

Galea, who misses tomorrow’s game against Salford City Reds with a hamstring injury, had hoped to finish his career in East Yorkshire.

In May, he shelved initial plans for retirement at the end of the season and asked coach Craig Sandercock for a new deal.

His form this year certainly suggests the hard-running forward – a NRL Grand Final winner with Wests Tigers in 2005 – is more than capable of carrying on, illustrated by the fact he was recently called into the Exiles squad.

However, the two parties have been unable to compromise and there is now sure to be a clutch of clubs willing to offer him a 12-month contract.

Galea, though, admits he is saddened a deal could not be clinched to see out his career with the Robins for whom he has played more than 100 games.

“I am extremely disappointed that the club and I have not been able to reach an agreement for the 2013 season,” he said.

“I still feel a huge desire to play rugby league now and beyond the 2012 season, making me extremely reluctant to hang up the boots. I have thoroughly enjoyed the past five seasons at Hull KR and will be sad to leave. I would like to thank my team-mates, the club and the supporters for making my time at Hull KR the fantastic experience it has been.

“I’ll continue to wear the red and white jersey with pride and give my best until the final whistle blows.”

Galea has been a force throughout his time in Super League, making the Dream Team in 2009, and Rovers chief executive Mike Smith admitted: “He is a consummate professional, on and off the pitch.

“He has often provided the link between the players and the club, even before he was made captain at the start of this year.

“He’s also an exemplary role model to the younger players we have at Hull Kingston Rovers and has played a big part in helping to establish the club in Super League during the past five years.

“We’d liked to have kept Ben here for another season but, unfortunately, an agreement couldn’t be reached, hence the reason he will be moving on at the end of the year.”

Meanwhile, Rovers will look to cure their recent problem of collapsing in the latter stages of games.

Their play-off push has been hampered following late losses against both Catalan Dragons and St Helens but Salford, who defeated Warrington last week, will be similarly threatening.