Gallen To Come Out of Rep Footy Retirement

NSW great Paul Gallen could make his representative return as City captain against Country for the historic fixture's final edition in Mudgee next week.

The former Blues captain has been approached by City coach Brad Fittler to come out of representative retirement for the annual clash on May 7, according to News Corp Australia.

While NSW Rugby League wouldn't confirm his availability, a press conference involving several rugby league big wigs to announce the City captain will be held in Sydney on Thursday.

The 35-year-old Gallen's return will provide a boost to the fixture after Canterbury's decision to withhold its players from selection, citing concern for player welfare with a short turn around for their subsequent NRL match.

It will be the final City-Country match after the NRL decided it could no longer fit it into the schedule beyond 2017.

Full teams for the game will be named on Monday.

Photo: Getty Images

Earlier On Triple M

Photo: Getty Images

The Sharks needn't be in a rush to book in Paul Gallen's farewell celebrations, with the skipper telling Triple M's call team that he's feeling fit enough to play on beyond this year. Listen to the full report below.

And the zinger? He even mentioned playing on for several years.

The discussion was spurred following comments by Sharks coach Shane Flanagan that there is still no mail regarding Gal's retirement, and that the club would be happy to accommodate him in the side for years to come.

"The way he's playing at the moment, I think he'll be running around again," Flanagan said.

"Gal's still the strongest in our club at the gym and he's playing really well at the moment, so if he wants to play again and his performances are up the way they are at the moment, we'd be crazy not to have him again."

Gal told the Triple M call team that originally he'd set the deadline of round 12 to have made a decision on his future, but Flanagan pulled him aside in the last couple of weeks to tell him that there was no rush in making the call.

"The way I'm feeling and the way I'm playing, I've got no doubt that I could play on for years more at the moment," Gal said.

"We'll see what happens over the next ten weeks.

"If I had to decide today, definitely."