(Ed: Language warning for 7th par)

SYDNEY, Oct 31 AAP – Cronulla captain Paul Gallen reportedly received almost $80,000 from the NRL while under investigation by ASADA to cover his legal costs.

The amount was significantly more than that given to any other past or present Sharks player, Fairfax Media reported on Friday.

It is alleged Gallen received the special treatment after choosing not to use the legal team appointed by the Rugby League Players Association during the doping investigation.

The report claims the NRL committed $350,000 to the 17 past and present Cronulla players handed show-cause notices by ASADA in August.

Of that amount, Gallen’s supposed $80,000 allotment accounts for 23 per cent of the total sum.

The revelations come after judiciary chairman Paul Conlon sensationally quit his post on Wednesday in protest of the NSW skipper’s treatment for a foul-mouthed Twitter rant.

Gallen, who tweeted the NRL were “c***s”, was fined $50,000 for the tirade earlier this week – a punishment Conlon deemed grossly unfair.