Cronulla Sharks NRL captain Paul Gallen faces off against former NRL player John Hopoate

Cronulla star Paul Gallen has confirmed he will return to the boxing ring to fight infamous retired NRL player John Hopoate.Just weeks after code-hopping superstar Sonny Bill Williams laughed off Gallen’s public calls for the pair to trade fists in the ring, it was announced Thursday that Gallen has had to settle for a fight with the 44-year-old former Manly star.Hopoate fired the first shot after the announcement of their fight came the day after Gallen’s coach at Cronulla, Shane Flanagan, was deregistered by the NRL.“I’ll end his sporting career, he can sit in retirement with his coach,” Hopoate said. Hopoate and Gallen
will throw down at a Star of the Ring Charity Fight Night at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on February 8. The event will be be broadcast on Main Event.Gallen has not fought since his unanimous decision victory over Puna Rasaubale in 2017. The former Sharks captain recently knocked back a chance to fight Hopoate in November, after committing to a rehabilitation program with the Sharks for a shoulder injury he carried through the end of the 2018 NRL season.Gallen’s ducking saw Hopoate come out and publicly slam the former NSW State of Origin captain.Hopoate told The Sunday Telegraph last month Gallen is a “coward”.“He talks up a big show, he accepted the fight and now they’re telling me he won’t sign the contract,” Hopoate said.

Gallen confirms Cronulla deal for 2019

Paul Gallen has confirmed he's signed on with Cronulla for what will likely be his final NRL season. After it was reported on Tuesday evening that Gallen had officially put pen to paper on a one-year deal for 2019, the Sharks co-captain took to social media to confirm the news. "(In 1999) I sat here and agreed to my first @cronullasharks deal (and) today I signed what will probably be my last playing contract," Gallen posted on Instagram. "I won't say there's nothing I'd change we've had some hard days but also the most amazing ones. "I've played in every game around the world and had success at all levels.

"Thanks @cronullasharks for the opportunity. I'm here for one reason, to have success in 2019, 20 years after my first deal." Gallen's future at the club was never considered in any doubt, after he declared his intention to play into a record 19th season and beyond his 38th birthday in August. If he gets through next season unscathed, Gallen will remain a chance of notching up his 350th game in the NRL - a feat achieved by just three other players. It comes after the veteran forward made the call to knock back shoulder surgery last month, after he was ruled out of Cronulla's preliminary final loss to Melbourne through injury. 'I don't want to have major surgery on my shoulder at my age. I'm just going to rehab it and get back next year," Gallen told AAP at the time. "I'm pretty confident I'll be able to rehab it to play."