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Posted: 2024-01-22 03:50:12

Rugby League Players Association boss Clint Newton is calling for the Ronald Volkman saga to be a line-in-the-sand moment, saying contracting processes must be properly followed.

Volkman remains without a deal or certainty about the state of his shoulder surgery after a one-year offer from St George Illawarra was pulled earlier this month.

Released by the Warriors in late December to head to the Dragons, the playmaker was judged by medical staff in Wollongong to require surgery after scans showed loose screws from a previous shoulder injury.

The situation has prompted a lengthy blame game, with St George Illawarra questioning why their medical report conflicted with a Warriors one that noted shoulder irritation.

In turn, the Kiwi club is adamant that its medical report is accurate and has accused the Dragons of not completing due diligence on prior injuries.

Complicating the matter further is that Volkman's Dragons medical was completed at club training, while no contract was yet registered with the NRL.

That has led to concerns that Volkman will not be insured for his surgery and he could face a lengthy wait time in the process.

Newton is furious that Volkman took to the field at the Dragons while not registered with the NRL, and has also questioned the gap between his Warriors termination and Dragons contract.

"A player shouldn't be in a position where a termination occurs and several days go past before a player has a contract registered with the NRL," Newton said on SEN.

"The process of one player departing a club to join another should be pretty straightforward.

"The player is given permission to talk to other clubs.

"A medical takes place and your term occurs pretty quickly and then your termination occurs pretty quickly before your contract is then registered with the new club.

"Ronald's case has been completely jumbled up and botched really. And the only person affected in this case is the player."

Newton wants heavy sanctions handed out to any party found to have committed wrongdoing.

His other fear is this is not a sole incident and other players are released early and enter new clubs without insurance.

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