Cronulla Sharks skipper set to miss at least four weeks.
It is not just the Cronulla Sharks that have been left counting the cost of their six-point loss to the Gold Coast in round one, with the NSW Blues possibly without one its stars for game one in the wake of the injury to Paul Gallen.
The Cronulla captain was a spectator for much of his side’s defeat at the hands of the Gold Coast Titans on Monday night, after suffering a high ankle sprain.
Gallen said he heard a “crack” in the 31st minutes when Gold Coast forward Matt White and Luke Bailey tackled him int he 31st minute.
Known for playing through injuries at times, Gallen knew he was in trouble straight away and signaled to the bench, and was taken into the change-room straight away.
He left Remondis Stadium late on Monday night on crutches and in a moon boot.
The injury could keep Gallen out from a fortnight to four months, depending on its severity.
Sydney Roosters centre Michael Jennings sustained a similar injury to Gallen in 2011 and missed seven weeks. Team-mate Anthony Minichiello had to have surgery with the same injury in 2009 and missed four months while Ben Barba suffered from syndesmosis last year and was out for five matches.
“Something cracked – I knew I did something straight away,” Gallen said. “I did the same thing in a trial match in either 2006 or 2007.
“I’d like to be back in three to four weeks. That is what I am thinking anyway.
“I could feel it (the ankle) get stuck. It is one of those things.
“It’s a terrible way to start the season.”
Asked if he thinks he will miss Origin I, Gallen said it was too far away to tell and that he did not think this injury was a bad as the one suffered to the same ankle in 2006.
Generally, a grade one is two to four weeks, grade two is six to eight weeks, a grade three is three to four months after surgery.
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