Gallen, Hopoate to fight

communicate with any Sharks players or officials in 2014, the NRL bizarrely allowed him to resign with the club during his suspension.

‘‘He’s allowed to communicate with the club about [his] future contract and that was part of the discussion that we had,’’ NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said when asked about his re-signing in 2014. ‘‘But, ultimately, the decision on whether they contracted him was for the club.’’

Having been allowed to secure his own future at the club beyond his suspension, Flanagan doesn’t believe his responding to club officials’ emails about player retention and recruit from 2015 amounts to effectively coaching the Sharks in 2014, as he stands accused of. Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen will fight former two-time Australian heavyweight boxing champion John Hopoate in Sydney next February.

Gallen has an 8-0 record, while ex-NRL star Hopoate, who hasn’t fought since March 2010, has a 12-5 log.

The pair will meet as part of the Star of the Ring Charity Fight

Greenberg hailed Russell’s honesty after the Sharks CEO unwittingly brought down his club’s 2016 premiership-winning coach. Night on February 8.

The announcement of the bout comes just weeks after All Black Sonny Bill Williams laughed off Gallen’s public calls for the pair to do battle in the ring.

Gallen hasn’t fought since a unanimous decision win over former Fiji league international Puna Rasaubale, last year.

‘‘Barry Russell deserves significant credit in this in a difficult environment,’’ Greenberg said.

‘‘Barry Russell loves his club and loves the game, so what he’s tried to do is get to the truth – an uncomfortable truth for him and his club.

‘‘But he’s acted with integrity and with professionalism throughout, and he’s a shining light of an example of what leadership looks like in a club inside the NRL.’’

Co-captain Paul Gallen said he was also concerned for his coach’s wellbeing. ‘‘The most important thing for Flanno at the moment is him as a person and I think everyone needs to remember that,’’ Gallen said.

‘‘Flanno’s under a fair bit of pressure at the moment. Everyone needs to respect that a little bit and we’ll move on.

‘‘But, as personal friends of Flanno, we’ll be there for him personally.’’