Andrew Ettingshausen will never forget the celebrated image of him embracing Paul Gallen, the younger, slightly less handsome club favourite who will draw level with his Cronulla record of 328 games this weekend.

Ettingshausen and Gallen shed ''tears of joy'' in the middle of ANZ Stadium after the historic 2016 premiership triumph over Melbourne.

'We did it': Paul Gallen and Andrew Ettingshausen embrace after the Sharks' maiden grand final win in 2016. Credit:AAP

"It was something not planned, I was on the ground after that match, he spotted me, he came flying over, and we had a great understanding of the amount of effort that had gone in,'' Ettingshausen told the Herald.

"He had played about 15 years at that stage and not won a premiership. When he saw me and knew how much it meant to the Sharkies club and all the past players.