It was early 2021 when one day, out of the blue, Paul Gallen's phone lit up with a number he was certainly not expecting.

It was his former sparring partner Will Chambers, the man who had verbally tormented Gallen during a series of fiery contests only a few years earlier.

Gallen, to be fair, had given as good as he got.

Chambers had left the NRL in 2019 and headed to Japan for a sojourn in rugby, but the COVID pandemic forced him back to Australia and he felt his playing days weren't done.

He had an offer on the table to play for the Sharks, but wanted the blessing of Cronulla's only premiership winning captain before signing any papers.

"I had actually retired. He actually rang me to say 'mate do you mind if I come to the Sharks?' and I said 'mate I'm retired, do what you want to d

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