SYDNEY - It was a sickening hit that ended John Hopoate's league career. But Cronulla backrower Phil Bailey believes team-mate Keith Galloway's recovery from Hopoate's infamous round-two high shot has steeled the young prop for his latest challenge.
Bench regular Galloway, 20, has been named as starting prop in the
absence of the injured Jason Stevens and Hutch Maiava for the Sharks' NRL qualifying final against overwhelming favourites St George Illawarra at Wollongong tonight.
Galloway has been limited to just 14 games - out of a maximum 24 - this season after suffering five weeks of headaches following the ugly Hopoate tackle that earned the Manly winger a career-ending ban.
But Bailey said the 1.96m, 112kg Galloway was not only back on his feet but raring to shine in his maiden finals match, and the Sharks' first playoff campaign since 2002.
"The Hoppa hit could have put him back a long way," Bailey admitted. "But he's grown from it, I feel. He was a bit gun-shy when he first came back.
"But he got his confidence back and started playing good footy. He's back to his best. He's a big lump of a lad and he's very excited to be playing finals footy."
However, Bailey admitted ex-test prop Stevens, who retires at the end of the season, may have already played his last game.
The Sharks said Stevens was "struggling" with a shoulder injury and may not be available to play in the NRL finals in two weeks - if the club gets that far.
Sharks coach Stuart Raper, who yesterday cut Michael Sullivan and Cameron Ciraldo from his 19-man squad, has rated Stevens a "day to day" proposition.
The Sharks' odds of beating the in-form Dragons are in no better shape.
The seventh-ranked Sharks are rated as $5.50 outsiders by TAB Sportsbet against the Dragons ($1.12). Even eighth-placed Manly ($4.20) has better odds against minor premiers Parramatta ($1.20).
But Bailey said: "There is no pressure on us because we are the biggest underdogs in the competition.
"Everyone expects us to get beaten by 50 so we'll just go out with nothing to lose."
Former test utility Bailey typified the spirit the Sharks will need when he returned three weeks early from a broken arm to help Cronulla seal a finals berth against Manly three weeks ago.
"The Manly game was one I had to come back for because if we didn't win that, as it turned out, we wouldn't have made the semis," he said.
Bailey was feeling no pain when the Sharks thrashed Manly 68-6 to lock up seventh place, but since then it has all gone pear-shaped.
Cronulla lost to wooden spooners Newcastle 44-14 and lowly South Sydney 26-22, in the last home game appearance for veterans David Peachey and Stevens, to limp into the finals.
"The last fortnight has been disappointing, especially because we wanted to send Peach and Stevo out in a good way at home," Bailey said.
"But it's the semis now. If we win four games we've got a title."
- AAP
SYDNEY - It was a sickening hit that ended John Hopoate's league career. But Cronulla backrower Phil Bailey believes team-mate Keith Galloway's recovery from Hopoate's infamous round-two high shot has steeled the young prop for his latest challenge.
Bench regular Galloway, 20, has been named as starting prop in the
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