Former Blues skipper Paul Gallen delivered some blunt advice to Kalyn Ponga amid the firestorm engulfing the Knights skipper over his contract negotiations.
Ponga has copped plenty of criticism after meeting with the Dolphins recently about potentially walking away two years early from the end of his contract with Newcastle.
The star fullback had an option inserted into his contract to leave the door open for a potential switch to rugby union in pursuit of an All Blacks jersey but it was amended after the NRL salary cap auditors rejected the clause and now he is free to negotiate anywhere.
There is a perception that his father, Andre, is having too much of a say in negotiations and it is getting Newcastle offside. Gallen, on Wide World of Sports radio, said Ponga needed to take control of the situation irrespective of what is said in the media.
“This is part and parcel of the game. This is what you do when you sign big-money contracts and you’re a high-profile player, you attract attention and you attract media attention,” he said.
“At the end of the day, the media is the ones that virtually pay these blokes’ bills. If it wasn’t such a sport covered by the media and people were so interested, they wouldn’t get paid the money they get paid.
“He’s signed a contract like that, he chose to have a contract like that, he’s got to deal with the consequences.
“Kalyn is the boss and he has to make the decision and that’s what a lot of players do … ‘my management is looking after it, my manager is looking after it’. That’s what they say. A lot of people say it. But you know what? At the end of the day it reflects on you.
“You’re the person who signed the contract, you’re the one running out on the field. It reflects on you.”
Former Sharks suffers broken neck
Former Cronulla flyer Nathan Stapleton has been hospitalised with a serious spinal injury after fracturing his neck while playing country rugby union.
Stapleton was hurt in a ruck during the second half of his Boorowa club’s opening game of the season against West Wyalong on April 9.
The match was immediately abandoned while the 32-year-old was treated by a nurse at the ground.
He was taken to the spinal unit at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, with a welfare officer at his former club Cronulla also checking on he and his young family’s wellbeing.
“During our game last Saturday at West Wyalong, Goldies Men’s player Nathan Stapleton suffered a significant injury during the second half which led to the match being abandoned,” Boorowa Rugby Club posted on Facebook.
“Unfortunately during contact, Nathan fractured his neck and injured his spinal cord, requiring significant medical assistance.
“Through an incredible effort from members of each club, Nathan was given first aid until paramedics could arrive.
“Nathan has begun his recovery at hospital in Sydney, and whilst he shows improvement each day the extent of his injuries and long term impact remain unclear.”
Stapleton scored 17 tries 61 games for the Sharks between 2009 and 2014, before being released to join the Sydney Roosters.
He later moved to England to play with London, and has started a family since moving back to Australia.