Off The Record podcast: Paul Gallen opens up on seeking help to give up drinking after NRL career

Former Sharks and NSW captain Paul Gallen has opened up on his decision to seek professional help to give up drinking, revealing the moment he realised “this isn’t me”. OFF THE RECORD PODCAST

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July 10, 2025 - 9:36PM

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Paul Gallen reveals he sought help for his drinking

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Paul Gallen has opened up on his decision to give up alcohol after admitting he “wasn’t in a good way”.

As revealed on the Off The Record podcast, hosted by The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield and The Australian’s Andrew Webster, Gallen admitted that in 2023 he sought help to get himself off the drink.

The former Sharks and NSW captain retired from rugby league in 2019 before getting into the boxing ring, where he is currently preparing for a highly anticipated bout with Sonny Bill Williams.

However, Gallen admits that after hanging up the boots, he struggled with alcohol problems.

“2023 was a bit of a loose year for me, to be honest,” Gallen said.

“I was probably drinking too much. From where I come from to what I was doing, it wasn’t me.

Paul Gallen has admitted he sought help for his drinking. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“Me and Wade Graham flew back from Vegas … I said to Wade ‘I’m not drinking anymore’.

“I went and got some help … I was not in a good way.

Gallen, a premiership winner with the Sharks in 2016, said the scary part was when he realised he was “coping” with the levels of alcohol he was consuming.

Paul Gallen is preparing to fight Sonny Bill Williams. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“I was turning up to work and I was coping, that’s what scared me.

“When I used to play rugby league I didn’t drink often … when I drank, I was drinking to the extreme … it’d take me three or four days to get over it.

“When I started coping with it and just turned up to work being normal, that’s when I thought ‘this isn’t me’”.

Gallen sought the help of a psycholgist and while he said he may drink again in the future, he’s happy about the decision he made.

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Originally published as Off The Record podcast: Paul Gallen opens up on seeking help to give up drinking after NRL career