Over the last few days, talk of Paul Gallen retiring from all representative football after the third State of Origin game this year has begun after his Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan stated he will be focussing solely on playing for the Sharks in 2016.
Flanagan said of Gallen, “Moving forward he won’t be playing Origin next year. He will be only playing for the Cronulla Sharks.”
Gallen was bemused by the comments. He has yet to make any decision about his representative duties beyond 2015. He showed his disappointment at the comments by Flanagan, revealing, “They are his wishes, they are probably the club’s wishes. But at the end of the day it’s my decision and it will be left up to me.”
Gallen has played just 16 of Cronulla’s 48 games since the 2013 finals, yet has played in 4 of the last 5 Origin matches.
Earlier in the month the Sharks agreed to his request to play for one more season, before Gallen considers whether to continue his career in the Superleague. There have been tentative rumours linking him to Leeds.
