Paul Gallen willing to share Cronulla Sharks captaincy with Wade Graham

CRONULLA veteran Paul Gallen wants coach Shane Flanagan to allow Wade Graham to be a co-captain next year as part of the leadership transition process.

NRL boxers Junior Paulo and Paul Gallen ahead of their charity bout on December 8. Picture: Justin Lloyd

CRONULLA legend Paul Gallen will lobby coach Shane Flanagan to appoint co-captains next season.

Gallen wants Flanagan to name back-rower Wade Graham as co-skipper when Cronulla attempt to go back to back in 2017. A season together in charge would give Graham enormous confidence before Gallen retires after next season.

“I wouldn’t mind if we did a co-captaincy next year, Gallen said.

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“That’s up to Flanagan but it wouldn’t hurt my ego, that’s for sure.

“I have done all I can do. I would be quite happy to share it with (Graham) next year. To be honest, he (Graham) has already learned a lot and could take over no problems.

NRL boxers Junior Paulo and Paul Gallen ahead of their charity bout on December 8. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“He’s a leader, a good fellow, good talker at training, I’ve got no doubt if I wasn’t to play next year he would take over quite easily.”

Gallen will fight Canberra giant Junior Paulo at Sydney’s Hordern Pavillion on December 9 before ­another bout on December 23.

Then it will be back to pre-season training with his Sharks teammates, including Andrew Fifita, who has threatened to quit the NRL to play rugby union in Europe.

“I have spoken to him a couple of times. He’ll be a Shark. If he’s not a Shark, he won’t be playing in the NRL,” Gallen said. “He’s a good guy, Andrew. He had some issues pop up which everyone jumped all over and a lot of the time it was his own fault, but he’ll be with the Sharks next year.”

Asked who should replace him as NSW Origin skipper, Gallen said: “I am pushing my mate’s barrow here but Wade Graham is terrific. Boyd Cordner, he would do a terrific job, he’s a real leader. Josh Jackson is someone I earmarked this year.

“They play 80 minutes. Every year I was captain, if I didn’t play 80 minutes, I played 70, 75 minutes. That’s the reason I like the back-rowers more than front-rowers.”

Gallen and Paulo will fight three two-minute rounds to assist the Raiders prop in his boxing debut.

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Former Souths and Parramatta halfback Chris Sandow will also fight a yet-to-be finalised opponent, possibly Todd Carney.

Asked if he was scared before a fight, Gallen said: “Yeah, of course. Anyone who says they aren’t is probably lying to you. There’s no doubt about it, there is always fear there, there is fear in everything, playing footy.”

Gallen will backup a fortnight later for a December 23 fight against Queenslander Ryan Waters at Southern Cross Group Stadium.

Tickets are through Ticketek, with the fight televised on Fox Sports.

Originally published as Paul Gallen willing to share Cronulla Sharks captaincy with Wade Graham