HE didn’t know the words to Cronulla’s team song three days ago, but Trent Barrett was last night named the new Sharks skipper.

New captain … Cronulla five-eighth Trent Barrett. Photograph: Krystle Wright / The Daily Telegraph

After Saturday night’s upset win over Parramatta, Barrett – who has played just 10 games with the club – confessed to not knowing the victory song.

But Barrett, the former Dragons champion, will skipper Cronulla for the second time against the Warriors this Sunday at Toyota Stadium after leading them to victory against the Eels.

The appointment comes after Paul Gallen quit as captain.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Gallen spoke to influential figures at the Sharks before emailing club CEO Tony Zappia last night to terminate his reign as skipper.

Gallen was aware the board, who meet tonight, were split over whether to dump him after last week’s racial vilification drama.
But Gallen got in first. Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart said last night Gallen would again be considered as a Cronulla skipper.

“He’ll have another opportunity in my eyes to be captain again,” Stuart said.

“It’s been a sapping week for Paul. He may not be captain any more but he will be viewed the same by his teammates.”

Earlier yesterday, Stuart admitted that hot-head Gallen was being “baited and targeted” every week – but it was no excuse for his star player to lose control.

Gallen yesterday accepted a $10,000 fine for racially abusing Dragons forward Mickey Paea during a round 11 game after being issued with a breach notice by the NRL.

“But I’m not a racist,” Gallen said yesterday.

Stuart told The Daily Telegraph his representative back-rower was working intensively on calming down his on-field aggression.

“Paul came to my place yesterday at an emotional low and I think he needed to get there to go forward,” Stuart said.

“You only needed to look at when he was pushed in the face in front of the goalposts against St George Illawarra and he didn’t retaliate. That shows he is improving but still has a way to go. Unfortunately, with his record, he is a target and gets baited every week.”

Injury forced Gallen out of tomorrow night’s State of Origin match.

Speaking about his racism drama, Gallen said: “Comments were made in the heat of the moment and I’m sorry for the pain that it has caused Mickey Paea, his family and my family.”