Cronulla captain Paul Gallen feels he has turned the corner in his battle with referees and won't jeopardise the Sharks' premiership campaign with ill-discipline.

Gallen is still upset over being blamed for giving away crucial penalties in NSW's Origin III loss this year but has vowed not to put himself in the same position again.

He ranks equal seventh in the NRL for penalties conceded this year with 19, behind teammate Brett Kimmorley (20), but says he has improved his discipline in the latter half of the year after becoming more understanding of referees.

Gallen credits a meeting with referees boss Robert Finch in the weeks after the Origin III debacle for helping overcome his discipline woes.

"I copped a hammering after that third Origin. It was ridiculous. It was just stupid and getting to me a bit," said Gallen.

"I had been getting penalised by the referees and I wanted to know what their opinion was and how I could work with them better.

"There was a time there where I feel I was being targeted a bit and anything 50-50 was going against me.

"I think that meeting with Finch did a world of good.

"It was positive for me too because he told me ... 'honestly we don't have a problem with you. We don't think you're a big deal on the field'.

"I did think they had preconceived ideas which I am sure some do but as far as meetings and complaining about me goes there wasn't much at all.

"But I think the last six weeks I know I've still given away a few penalties but I think I've been a lot better and have had one or two games where I've not been penalised at all."

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