Paul Gallen (born 14 August 1981) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a lock, prop and second-row forward and captained the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL. He is a former captain and representative of the New South Wales State of Origin team. He has also been the vice captain of Australia and played his whole NRL career with the Sharks, with whom he won the 2016 NRL Premiership. He was the NRL's oldest player playing in 2018. He has the Australian first grade record for most seasons played in the NRL with 19 (ahead of 18 season players such as Andrew Ettinghausen, Luke Lewis and Cameron Smith.