Rugby League Players Association chief govt Clint Newton says Ronald Volkman’s transfer to the Dragons ought to have been “straightforward” and his contract saga has been “completely jumbled up and botched” with no readability round his fast taking part in future.
Volkman left the Warriors on the finish of 2023 regardless of having two years remaining on his deal to take up a 12-month contract with the Dragons.
The younger half had began coaching with the Red V regardless of the membership not having formally registered the contract with the NRL, with a routine medical then revealing he wanted season-ending surgical procedure on a shoulder harm.
Neither membership has to pay his medical payments – rumoured to be about $50,000 – given he’s not underneath contract, and the scenario has infuriated Newton, who says gamers have to be higher protected.
“It’s a unique situation and it’s a pretty disappointing one as well,” Newton stated on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“This is why we held the line during the CBA (negotiations) to strengthen the terms and conditions for our members.
“When you go to work, you want to make sure you are properly protected and that those responsible for looking after you comply with their obligations.
“If they don’t, they’ll be held accountable and players aren’t always given the respect they deserve.
“The process of one player departing a club to join another should be pretty straightforward.
“Ronald’s case has been completely jumbled up and botched (and) the only person affected in this case is the player.
“No player should be left in the situation that they have to foot their own medical bills due to the fact they have sustained an injury performing their obligations to the club.
“We are hopeful for a positive outcome.”
Volkman heads into the brand new season and not using a contract and it’s led to loads of debate as to who’s finally accountable and whether or not the Dragons or Warriors ought to pay for his medical payments contemplating he did nothing flawed.
“No player should be in a position where a termination occurs and several days go past before a player has a contract registered with the NRL,” Newton stated.
“Many parties have played a role in this (and) we must ensure Ronald is protected.
“I wouldn’t have thought this would be required but there needs to be further communication in the industry to ensure that this never happens again.”
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan refused to pin all of the blame on the Warriors however stated extra wanted to be completed to make sure one thing like this by no means occurred once more.
“I’m disappointed for the young bloke because he’s going to have to have surgery,” he stated from the membership’s Wollongong coaching base final week.
“We were hoping he was going to have a big year for us, so from a selfish perspective, I’m disappointed for the club, but for Ronald, it’s shattering news for him.
“I’ll leave it to the club to sort out the other side of things.
“The facts are that he hurt himself when he was at the Warriors and he needs surgery. We just need to fill the gaps in somewhere.
“I don’t want to point fingers at clubs, but in my 20 years doing this job, I’ve never had a player fail a medical, so it’s a strange one.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
