Paul Gallen to continue as Cronulla Sharks captain after Shane Flanagan consults military leader Paul Gallen will continue to captain Cronulla in 2015. CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan has declared Paul Gallen as the club's captain for 2015 - and he has sought counsel from one of the country's highest ranked military figures to assist in re-building the club's leadership structure. Following a series of meetings with the commander, who can't be named by The Sunday Telegraph for high-level security reasons, Flanagan says he is ready to implement a tiered leadership structure from "first grade down to the under-16s." It is similar to the structure used in the defence force - with Gallen on top. "I've had a few meetings with him and have been mentored by him in relation to leadership," Flanagan said of the defence force leader. Paul Gallen's had a tough time of it since the start of his ASADA ban. Pic: David Moir Source: DailyTelegraph I'm not looking to implement a leadership group, Gal will be our captain. This is more about a tiered leadership structure within the club. That will go right through all grades, similar to what you would see in the military. We have plenty of leaders in our club and we have to identify what different qualities they all have. Who would you choose as Cronulla captain? If I have 10 qualities I want our football team to be built around, Gal may have three or four of those qualities, Michael Ennis might have three, Wade Graham might have two or three. So it's about creating a nucleus of leadership which allows us to achieve those qualities. Gallen's retention as club captain is poignant with an ASADA ban ending today for past and present Sharks players who accepted a deal with the drug agency for their role in the 2011 supplements scandal. Those to accept the deal include 2015 contracted players Gallen, Nathan Gardner, Wade Graham, Anthony Tupou from the Sharks, ­Jeremy Smith and Kade Snowden from Newcastle, Luke Douglas from the Gold Coast, North Queensland's Matthew Wright and UK Super League bound, Albert Kelly. Former hooker John Morris is also free to pursue his ambition of becoming a member of the Sharks coaching staff. The NRL approved the players" return at 12.01am this morning, providing them with the green light to return to their clubs this morning. Gallen has become the ­unwanted face of the saga. His unsavoury tweet to NRL chief executive Dave Smith last month created further pressure and debate surrounding his future as NSW and Sharks captain. Shane Flanagan will implement a military style leadership structure at Cronulla. Origin coach Laurie Daley has already declared Gallen will remain as Blues skipper. Flanagan also reaffirmed his intention to retain the 32-year-old as his leader. "What I have learned is that in all walks of life, business or football, leadership is something you work on every day," Flanagan said. That's something for me, for Gal and for everyone to do if they want to grow as a leader. I'm looking forward to ­getting Gal back from this (ban) and getting the Gallen of old back. The hardworking, special player that he is who wants to lead this club into the future. That goes for all the boys, starting on Monday. Originally published as Gallen to lead again after military advice