SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 05: Paul Gallen of the Sharks looks dejected after defeat in the round 21 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Manly Sea Eagles at Southern Cross Group Stadium on August 5, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen has said he will make a decision by the end of the week whether he will hang up his boots after this season.

Featuring on Channel Nine's 100% Footy, Gallen prompted that he was close to making a decision and he had been talking closely with coach Shane Flanagan about his future.

"I have to make a call soon. It's come to the point now where it needs to be done, I need to make a decision,"

"I'll be guided a lot by Flanno this week,"

"We spoke about it months and months ago and we just left it there.

“It’s snuck up on us pretty quickly with the way the year has gone, it’s been about the team more and we haven’t worried about it."

Last month Flanagan hinted that Gallen was leading towards playing his 19th season next year.

“He’s probably leaning on the side of playing again but he won’t make a decision until the end of the season,”

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Gallen, who turns 37 this week has played all 18 of his NRL seasons with Cronulla. In 2016, he captained the club to its first and only premiership in club history, with a 14-12 win over the Melbourne Storm.

Through his career, Gallen has represented Australia and captained NSW in State of Origin. He also lead NSW in the 2014 State of Origin Series, which saw NSW end Queensland's 8 series wins in a row.

If Gallen does choose to retire after this season, this Sunday will be his last game at Southern Cross Group Stadium.