MACQUARIE captain Blake Gallen suffered a broken leg while scoring a try that helped his team to a 22-16 win over Central Newcastle in a gritty Newcastle rugby league clash at Toronto on Saturday.
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Play was halted for 40 minutes midway through the first half as ambulance paramedics attended to Gallen.
“Make sure we get the win,” the second-rower told coach Adam Bettridge as he was loaded into the ambulance.
And the Scorpions delivered.
Bettridge said Gallen underwent an operation on Saturday night and was to have further surgery this week.
The injury occurred when Gallen crossed to score a try that gave the Scorpions a 10-6 lead.
“He went to put the ball down and a player landed on top of his leg,” Bettridge told the Newcastle Herald on Saturday night.
“He was in immense pain. I went out on the field with him and he said ‘Ads I need green whistle (pain relief) I think I’m going to be sick’.
“Blake Gallen doesn’t lay down for no-one. He is as tough as they come.”
It’s unlikely Gallen will play again this season.
“It was terribly bad luck for Blake as he was having another great season and was right up there in the Newcastle Rugby League player of the year award polling,” Bettridge told the Lakes Mail on Monday.
“All our thoughts are with him. I’m sure the boys in the club will rally around him.”
Betteridge said the team responded well to the shock of seeing their skipper taken from the field.
“I thought the commitment and fight shown by the squad after Blake was injured was really very good, and I am sure they wanted to win the game for him,” Bettridge said.
“We dug deep and held onto the lead late in the second half when we were under real pressure from Central. It really does show just how tough the squad is.
“Although we have a few injuries at the moment and a number of players unavailable, everyone who comes into the squad does their job which is all you can ask of them,” Bettridge said.
The Scorpions are now second on the ladder with a game in hand against South Newcastle which will be played on Sunday, July 16.
Macquarie is at home at Lyall Peacock Field again this Sunday when they host Lakes United in a Round 9 fixture at 3pm.
Meanwhile, in the Newcastle Hunter Rugby League, Dora Creek remains undefeated at the top of the A Grade premiership ladder. The Swampies are away to Fingal Bay this Saturday.