Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan says Sharks skipper Paul Gallen won't be standing down for next Saturday's clash with Gold Coast despite the request of NSW coach Ricky Stuart.

Stuart revealed after Wednesday's State of Origin win had levelled the series with Queensland at 1-1 that he'd asked his players not to play for their clubs next weekend to allow him time to prepare for the July 6 clash at Suncorp Stadium.

Gallen was outstanding in the Sharks' 26-10 win over Canterbury on Sunday, scoring a try and setting up another as Cronulla recorded their first victory over the Bulldogs since 2007.

And Flanagan confirmed after the win his skipper will face the Titans at Skilled Park.

"Gal is in a bit of a situation," Flanagan said.

"We are desperate as well.

"He is captain of his state and it is a real big game (against Queensland), but we are in a delicate situation at the moment.

"He will turn up and play next week and touch wood he will get through and be ready to play Origin three."

The 29 year old went off six minutes from time after a clash of heads but Flanagan played down any concerns about his skipper's health.

"It was another machine-like performance from Gal today, but I thought he had some nice touches on him as well," he said.

"He was involved in two tries, he can play with the ball, attracts people in and creates opportunities for us.

"He has a bit of a headache in there, he copped a bit of a head clash at the end.

"He didn't have to come off, it wasn't much of a spell, just six minutes ... but he'll be fine."

Sharks hooker John Morris said Gallen's performance for NSW lifted the whole club and was a major factor in their display against a confidence-ravaged Bulldogs side.

"He is inspirational. I have been lucky to play with some great leaders at the clubs I've been to but he is on another level," the former Parramatta and Wests Tigers player said.

"He leads by his actions and to see what he did on Wednesday just lifted us."

Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore was bitterly disappointed with his side's performance and admitted his players are struggling with confidence, following their fifth defeat in six games.

However, the hosts were not helped by the loss of hooker Michael Ennis with an infected cut to his ear, halfback Trent Hodkinson out through suspension and Jamal Idris dropped for disciplinary reasons.

"We're going through a tough period at the moment and have been for the last four or five weeks," Moore said.

"There's never any special recipe for getting out of these sort of things.

"You've just got to keep putting your head down and keep working as hard as you've ever done and pull together as a team, as a club and just keep working our way out of it.

"The game was in the balance at halftime and we just needed to find a way to get across the line and I think at the moment that's half our battle. I don't know whether it's a mental thing or blokes not believing in themselves."

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