NSW skipper Paul Gallen says he’ll go into Wednesday’s State of Origin opener feeling fresher than ever.
Gallen has missed Cronulla’s past three games after injuring his knee in the third minute of the win against Newcastle four weeks ago but said his body is in better shape than before game one last year.
The 31-year-old admitted he almost pulled out of last year’s opener in Melbourne after damaging knee ligaments but still went on to make almost 35 tackles and clock up close to 160 metres.
“I remember going into game one with a posterior cruciate ligament injury and I was icing my knee all day and tossing up whether to pull out or not,” Gallen said on Tuesday.
“I feel a lot more comfortable this year and certainly a lot more fresh.”
The talismanic skipper produced one of the all-time great Origin displays in game two in 2011 when he played for 80 minutes in the front row.
He became only the second man to do so in series history emulating former NSW prop Glenn Lazarus’ achievement 15 years earlier.
However, he said he’s unlikely to do that again this year.
“If I need to, I need to and I am confident I can do it,” he said.
“But, to be honest, I think I’ll be the first player to be replaced.
The Blues have their final hit-out on Tuesday at ANZ Stadium where they will put the finishing touches to their quest to win a first series win since 2005.
Luke Lewis, who has also missed the past two games for the Sharks, has experienced no further effects from his recent shoulder injury.