Paul Gallen faces up to six weeks on the sidelines with knee injury
CRONULLA skipper Paul Gallen has been cleared of a season-ending knee injury but still faces up to six weeks on the sidelines.
NRL
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PAUL Gallen will live to fight another day.
The Cronulla and NSW State of Origin captain will have the opportunity to finish his 15-year career on his own terms after being cleared of a season-ending knee injury.
In the best possible scenario, Gallen could be back within six weeks after suffering a torn posterior ligament and meniscus tear in the Sharks opening round loss to North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night.
Much to his relief, Gallen was cleared of an anterior cruciate ligament tear when he received the results of scans taken upon his return to Sydney tonight.
The Sharks skipper signed a one year-deal until the end of 2016 and while he is yet to declare this will be his final season in the NRL, a knee reconstruction would’ve almost certainly forced Gallen into an early retirement.
Instead, Gallen will meet with specialists on Monday to determine his rehabilitation path back onto the field.
As of Sunday night, Gallen’s scans suggested he could miss between six to eight weeks.
Gallen, 34, was taking a routine hit-up with 16-minutes remaining in the Sharks 20-14 loss to the Cowboys, when he was noticeably slow to rise to his feet.
Gallen told the Sharks medical staff he felt a “crack” as he headed immediately up the tunnel and into the dressing rooms.
And while there were some fears internally among the Sharks that Gallen may have suffered a torn ACL, coach Shane Flanagan was wise in stopping shot of declaring the worst possible news for Cronulla fans.
“He’s pretty dejected in the dressing rooms,’’ Flanagan said.
“Touch wood there it’s not too bad.
“We won’t know (the seriousness) until he has scans.’’
With a positive recovery and rehabilitation, Gallen will also be available to return to the field ahead of this year’s State of Origin series, which is expected to be his swan song for NSW.
Flanagan will begin the hunt for Gallen’s replacement in the forward pack — and also a new captain — ahead of their first home game of the season, a local derby against St George-Illawarra at Shark Park next Sunday.
Vice-captain Wade Graham would be expected to take over the captaincy duties for the Sharks, but given their depth of experienced players, Michael Ennis, Luke Lewis, Chris Heighington and James Maloney will undoubtedly be asked to step up in Gallen’s absence.
Parramatta recruit Joseph Paulo, who was named as the 18th man for round one, is the frontrunner to make his club debut in Gallen’s absence.
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