http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,25378564-14823,00.html
THE man once billed as the next Sonny Bill Williams has walked out on a $600,000 contract with Cronulla - freeing up enough money for the wooden-spoon favourites to chase a high-profile player. Karl Filiga, 20, has left the Sharks on compassionate grounds, his once-promising NRL career in tatters.
Filiga left the Bulldogs in late 2007 to sign a massive three-year deal with Cronulla worth $200,000 a season.
But he played just 11 minutes of first grade during a 2008 match against Penrith in round 13.
That is equivalent to $20,000 a minute in the NRL.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Sharks chief executive Tony Zappia and coach Ricky Stuart now have $400,000 in their salary cap chequebook to splash out on a marquee player this year.
There were suggestions last night that Filiga was training with Canterbury junior club Chester Hill, who play in the Bundaberg Red Cup.
"Karl requested a release on compassionate grounds," Zappia said last night. "He can't play anywhere else until he gets a clearance from us. I don't know where he is at the moment or what his intentions are. The whole situation is very disappointing."
Asked what players he would target with the extra money, Zappia said: "We are reviewing the situation."
Given the club's poor attack, the Sharks may chase an outside back, possibly Manly's David
Williams. Asked if he was interested in Filiga, Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore said: "You never say never to anything. He has spent some time here at the Bulldogs. Karl was offered huge money to go to Cronulla. If he's available and playing for Chester Hill, then we could get a look at him first-hand."
Filiga had trouble overcoming chest and foot injuries while at Cronulla.
