Sharks back to work

The Sharks NRL squad was back at work and on the training paddock on Monday morning in their first official session of 2013.

With the first of their pre-season trials just over a month away it was business as usual as the entire squad, including skipper Paul Gallen and his newest teammates in Luke Lewis, Chris Heighington, Michael Gordon and Beau Ryan worked up a sweat on the back fields at Toyota Stadium.

For Gallen it was his first run with the team in the off-season after having been given a break over the pre-Christmas period to recover from a series of niggling injuries and from his arduous 2012 schedule which included matches for the Sharks, NSW Origin side and the Kangaroos.

Gallen showed no ill-effects from the elbow surgery conducted during December and took part in the defensive drills with the rest of his teammates.

The only players missing from the training fields were Todd Carney and Bryce Gibbs, with the pair put through their paces in the Sharks gym as they continue their recovery from injuries and off-season surgery.

The Sharks will continue their 2013 preparations ahead of their first official trial against the Manly Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval on February 8.

The second and final trial for the Sharks will be at Skully Park in Tamworth on February 23 against the Newcastle Knights, ahead of their season opener when they host the Gold Coast Titans at home on March 10.