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The Warriors have agreed to fly their former player Ronald Volkman to New Zealand and pay for the surgery on his injured shoulder in an act of good grace.
For Volkman, it’s welcome news after what has been a brutal few weeks, with the young halfback left without a club for 2024 and his career in limbo.
Volkman left the Warriors at the end of last season to sign a 12-month deal for 2024 with the Dragons, however, that contract from the Red V was torn up after the playmaker’s shoulder injury came to light.
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The Dragons had announced the deal and Volkman was training with the squad until a routine medical examination showed the 21-year-old needed season-ending shoulder surgery.
It is reported that Volkman suffered a contact injury in December during his time with the Warriors and that scans from the Dragons showed displaced screws from a previous operation.
Volkman went for a third opinion from an independent doctor who confirmed the news he needed the surgery, which could cost up to $50,000.
As Volkman had been released from his Warriors contract and his Dragons deal was never registered with the NRL, the playmaker is without the required health insurance and neither team is on the hook to pay those medical bills.
However, as reported by The Daily Telegraph, the Warriors will come to the rescue.
Rugby League Players Association chief executive Clint Newton spoke on the situation on radio on Tuesday, before the news of the Warriors’ act of good grace became public.
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Newton said Volkman’s case has been “completely jumbled up and botched”.
“It’s a unique situation and it’s a pretty disappointing one as well,” Newton said 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.
“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.
“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.”
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