Sharks coach Shane Flanagan says he thinks veteran skipper Paul Gallen ls leaning towards playing on in 2019, unless the club plays in this season's grand final.
Gallen will turn 37 next month, and should he play on, would reach the 350-game milestone in a record 19th campaign next season.
It is believed that Gallen has changed his mind on several occasions in regards to his playing future, and at one stage had decided he was going to hang up the boots.
He currently holds the record alongsideย teammate Luke Lewis and fellow Sharks great Andrew Ettingshausen for the most seasons in the league.
The Cronulla coach believes Gallen will make a call when the time is right.
โHeโs probably leaning on the side of playing again but he wonโt make a decision until the end of the season,โ Flanagan told reporters.
โIf weโre lucky enough and good enough to play in a grand final Iโd say heโd pull up stumps then.
โHe wonโt make a decision either way, heโll just let it hang and make a decision at the end of the season.โ
Flanagan added that Gallen's current output, numbers and health still hold up with the best of them.ย
โIf heโs playing like he is at the moment, he can play on,โ Flanagan said.
โBut he needs to want to train and do the stuff during the week.The game part of it heโs doing fine, his numbers are great.
โBut it is an ask to do another pre-season, four months of slog.โ
Flanagan also said his skipper would ultimately consider doing what is best for the Sharks, wanting to give back to the club that has nurtured him.
โThe love of the game and the love of the club - Galโs sort of said to me that a lot of his career has been personal achievements and winning the grand final was a massive tick off that bucketlist,โ Flanagan said.
โBut now he just wants to give back and bring the next generation of players on. โHe said that if he did play, if thereโs someone better than him, heโd be happy to stand down and move on.โ
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