The talented guard plays for the Hume City Broncos in Mebourne but returned for the opening leg of the Women's Basketball Championships in Christchurch last month and will do the same when the tournament resumes in Auckland tomorrow.
She could not be reached for comment but Gold Rush coach Todd Marshall said she boosted both the talent on court and the morale off it.
''She is a genuine scoring threat and adds a lot of punch for us,'' Marshall said.
''The girls all get on so well, so it is like a family member coming back. It just gives them all a lift. Samara has a fun attitude off the court as well as on it.''
Gallaher is averaging 17 points a game, which is the fourth-highest in the league. She leads the league in steals, shoots almost 74% from the free throw line and has also rebounded strongly.
Her combination with dual basketball and cricket international Suzie Bates is an area of real strength for the Gold Rush.
Bates is the leading scorer with 21.3 points and also possesses a quality passing game.
The Gold Rush made a useful start to the championship with three wins from four games. Four other sides also share the same record. This weekend should see the cream separate from the sediment.
Otago opens with a match against the in-form Waikato Wizards.
The Harbour Breeze (Saturday) and Auckland-Counties (Sunday) also shape as tough encounters.
''It is a hard weekend coming up with five games in three days,'' Marshall said.
''All the games look quite tough. But we are in pretty good shape. The girls have been training exceptionally well. Their fitness and commitment is fantastic.''
The Gold Rush will also play games against the Rotorua Lady Vols on Saturday afternoon and the Capital Flyers on Sunday afternoon.
The Lady Vols are yet to register a win in the championship and the Flyers have won two of their four matches.
Otago has the extra challenge of playing two games in close succession on the Sunday.
Initially, its final game was scheduled a couple of hours later but had to be shifted forward so the team could catch a return flight to Dunedin.
The Gold Rush will be without guard Soraya Umaga-Jensen.
She injured her shoulder in a club game shortly after the opening phase of the tournament.
Marshall hopes she will be fit in time for the finals in Porirua beginning next month.
