Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen is set to make an extraordinary return from a biceps injury, as he pushes to be ready for the Sharks' clash with Penrith on Saturday.
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It was feared that Gallen would miss the rest of the NRL season after tearing a biceps in Cronulla’s loss to Newcastle on July 13.
However, Gallen has dedicated himself to his rehabilitation and is on the verge of making an early return. He tried to play for the Sharks against the Cowboys on Friday night, despite not being named in the squad, only to be overruled by the medical staff.
Gallen’s impending return will be a much-needed boost for the last-placed Cronulla side.
If Gallen plays Penrith, he will join Cronulla teammate Luke Lewis in the back row. The match against the Panthers will be Lewis’ first since leaving the west Sydney outfit at the end of the 2012 season. Injuries have robbed Lewis of the chance of playing against the side he once captained since joining Cronulla last year. However, he won’t get a chance to return to Sportingbet Stadium because Penrith have taken their home game to Bathurst.
Meanwhile, Cronulla are expected to make a final decision on who will coach them for the rest of the year this week. It is expected that James Shepherd will be retained as interim coach before Shane Flanagan returns from suspension at year's end.
Shepherd has put his hand up to continue in the role vacated by Peter Sharp earlier this month. It is understood he would have almost certainly been retained in the role had Cronulla beaten the Cowboys. The Sharks players responded to Shephard’s appointment by winning their first game under him before losing their next two matches.
