By converting a match-winning try to Michael Jennings on Wednesday Night, Paul Gallen brought to an end an Origin career that spanned a decade.

The fact that Gallen has a huge hand in both the first and final try of game three of his final Origin series perhaps shows best what the Cronulla and NSW captain is all about.

Social media has been abuzz over the past 48 hours when it comes to the retiring skipper, with many claiming Gallen to be one of NSW’s best ever, while others were far less complimentary.

So just how will the man who played over 20 times for his state be remembered in terms of his Origin career?

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: Paul Gallen of the Blues is chaired off the field after playing his final Origin game, celeabrating winning game three of the State Of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on July 13, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: Paul Gallen of the Blues is chaired off the field after playing his final Origin game, celeabrating winning game three of the State Of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on July 13, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

I genuinely believe that the fact NSW has had such a barren run in terms of series success over the past decade has swayed many opinions to the negative.

In Queensland, we have the single greatest football side ever assembled. Never before have players like Slater, Cronk, Thurston, Smith, Inglis, Hodges, Lockyer, Scott, Thaiday, Boyd and co been around for such a sustained period of time.

They have been the far better side for a decade, which is downright ridiculous considering the amount of talent in the blues ranks.

On many losing occasions, Gallen was by far and away the best player on the park for the Blues.

A number of NSW’s victories have come on the back off the stocky captain’s efforts. He routinely makes over 150 metres in the toughest game in the code, while making a mountain of tackles, as well as tackle breaks and offloads.

He registered a perfect ten a few seasons back in Rugby League Week, something I can only remember seeing on one or two other occasions. Although ratings are based on opinion, few could disagree that his effort that night was amongst the all-time great Origin performances.

I believe that if Gallen had been born north of the Tweed he would now be remembered as the most dominant forward of the modern era.

Corey Parker will, rightly, be remembered as a legend of the game, but I believe his standing would be affected if he were not involved in multiple Origin series wins.

Dane Neilson has more Origin-series victories than Gallen, yet I’d hazard a guess as to say Gallen’s star has burned a little brighter during his Origin career.

That being said Gallen has copped a reputation as being a bit of a ball hog over the years both at club and state level.

Being that he has played mainly at lock or at prop, it’s not crazy that his main job is to tuck the ball under his arm and make metres.

Yes, there have been times where a shift left or right would have seen an attacking opportunity created, only for Gallen to go to ground with the ball.

Yes there have been times when Gallen seemed to get in the way of an attacking play, however for a front rower or lock to get in the way perhaps says more about the halves than the forward himself.

There’s also the twitter argument that “Gallen is a grub”.

Come Origin time, every single player representing the state you’re not supporting automatically becomes a grub.

If you slow down every set of six in any Origin game ever, you see a mountain of elbows, forearms, face massages and leg twists.

North of the boarder we have the Courier Mail presenting Corey Parker as a saint, while the Daily Telegraph have printed pictures of him laying a forearm into the throat of a blues player.

Cooper Cronk is one of the greatest players I have ever seen play the game. I love watching him tear sides apart for the Storm. Yet come Origin time, grub. I bet it’s the same in reverse for the likes of James Maloney up north.

If anyone needs proof as to Gallen’s standing in the Origin arena, they need look no further than the send-off he received on Wednesday Night by teammates and fans alike.

The fact that tens of thousands stayed back after the game in freezing conditions to salute their captain showed the respect he has earned from the punters.

As for the players, the reaction to his after-the-siren conversion was enough to prove what most fans either know or will begrudgingly admit, that Gallen has long been one of NSW’s best and deserves to be remembered as such.

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