Gallen: 'We'll dig in for Ricky'

This week’s special guest on NRL.com chat is Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks enforcer, <b>Paul Gallen</b>.<br> <br> Gallen will be online from 12:30pm Thursday 3rd June to answer your questions on the Sharks season so far, Ricky’s resignation from the club, and his chances of reclaiming is Origin jersey this year. <br> <br> For more information or to register for a reminder, <a href="http://www.nrl.com/news/news/newsarticle/tabid/10874/newsid/58872/chat-with-paul-gallen-this-thursday-on-nrlcom/default.aspx"><b>click here.</b></a><b></b><br><br>Cronulla lock Paul Gallen says embattled Sharks players are determined to send coach Ricky Stuart out on a high this season after he announced that 2010 would be his final year at the club.<br><br>Frustrated by a disastrous 18 months that has seen his side win just eight of their past 36 games, Gallen admitted that it was difficult to be positive about what the future holds, with the Sharks’ on-field woes compounded by financial problems and tension in the front office.<br><br>But he said the players would rally around Stuart, who he credits for holding the side together, over the coming months. <br><br>Asked if he saw light at the end of the tunnel, Gallen told NRL.com today: “I don’t know mate.<br><br>“We do our best every week.<br><br>“We’re just playing for ‘Sticky’ (Stuart) every week for these last 12 or 13 games. <br><br>“He has been unbelievable these past two years with what he has had to put up with. He has gone above and beyond what a coach is supposed to do. <br><br>“All I’m worried about is doing my best for him and then we’ll see what players we can attract here for next year.”<br><br>Gallen said he was shocked to learn of Stuart’s decision to leave the Sharks 12 months before his contract expired last week but insisted criticism was unwarranted.<br><br>“I’m just happy for him,” he said. “This is probably the first time I’ve seen him put himself first. <br><br>“I see his kids around at training all the time… I just think it’s the best thing for him to move on and do what’s best for his family.”<br><br>The young Sharks outfit has again struggled for consistency this season, with Gallen having already expressed his frustration at the club’s inability to attract quality players since the untimely sacking of Greg Bird two years ago.<br><br>But the 28-year-old said he was hopeful that the appointment of Stuart’s assistant, Shane Flanagan, as head coach next season might spark a reversal of fortunes.<br><br>“Maybe we’ll sign a few more players,” he said. “I think it’s probably a bit of a case at the moment of some of our younger guys not knowing how to win.<br><br>“A guy like Blake Ferguson springs to mind and Isaac Gordon – they don’t even know what it’s like to be in a winning culture.<br><br>“Blake has probably played 25 first grade games and won maybe five. It’s tough going – they’re certainly learning the worst of it at the start of their careers.<br><br>“Hopefully over the next 12-18 months we can turn it around with Shane Flanagan coming in.”<br><br>While he has struggled for results at club level, the next week shapes as a big one for Gallen who is in line for a State of Origin recall after he was overlooked for NSW selection in Game One of the series.<br><br>His omission was among the most controversial by Blues selectors, after he played for Australia in their 12-8 win over New Zealand only weeks earlier.<br><br>The Sharks lock said he understood the reasons for missing Game One but was keen to help the Blues make amends at Suncorp Stadium on June 16. <br><br>“They are two different coaches and they probably look for different things,” he said. “I played in the Four Nations tournament that we won last year and I played pretty well so Tim Sheens was happy to keep me, but Craig Bellamy and the selectors with the way we were going didn’t want me there.<br><br>“That’s fine, it’s not going to change the way I play. If they want that sort of game there (for Game Two) and they think I can help, then I’ll do anything to play… but I’ll just have to wait and see.<br><br>“It’s a big challenge to go up to Suncorp and win – but that’s why I play footy.”<br>