Gallen still battling Origin loss

It’s been more than two weeks since NSW slipped to an agonising seventh straight State of Origin series defeat and skipper Paul Gallen is still not over it.

Since Cooper Cronk’s late field goal sealed a 21-20 win for Queensland at Suncorp Stadium, the Cronulla captain has not played due to a groin injury and an issue with the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

The Sharks have failed to win their past two matches without Gallen and slipped out of the top four, with Sunday’s trip to Canberra shaping up as a must-win game.

The 30-year-old will miss out once more against the Raiders and said the frustration of not being able to play has made it difficult to put Origin behind him.

“It’s been a bit slow – the hernia is coming along good, but my knee has been a bit slow,” Gallen said.

The back-rower said the Sharks’ medical team have been reluctant to rush him back, but said with the finals looming, he’s desperate to be back in the side.

“It’s now getting to the stage where I am sick of not playing,” he said.

“We need to start winning and, if the result doesn’t go our way this week, then there is going to be pressure on me to play.

“It’s starting to get to the stage where it’s getting frustrating. The docs have said the hernia is a two to three-week thing.

“I am not properly over the Origin, and that’s come from the frustration of not playing.

“The knee is an ongoing thing. It’s just hanging around. I’ve heard Billy Slater is struggling with his. Sometimes, they come good – sometimes, they take a while.”

The Sharks have not made the finals since 2008 and have a difficult last five games of the season where they travel to New Zealand, Newcastle and Melbourne and host South Sydney and North Queensland.

And Gallen conceded Sunday’s home clash with the Raiders and next week’s meeting with Penrith at Toyota Stadium are must-win games.

“We’re only a point out of the four and, if we win our next two games at home, we’re right back in there,” he said.

“The tough run leading into the semis will do us good. But saying that, if we want to make the top four, then we have to win our next two games.”

“The specialist said I need a month off to get it right but that’s not going to happen.”

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