SHATTERED Sharks star Josh Hannay will have his future sorted out tomorrow when he meets with coach Ricky Stuart amid threats of legal action from his manager.
Hannay, who was dumped to the Gymea Gorillas last month, told The Daily Telegraph last night he had not spoken to Stuart or chief executive Greg Pierce in three weeks and would seek a release from the remaining 18 months of his contract if a return to first grade was ruled out.
While his manager Jim Banaghan launched a scathing attack on the Rugby League Players Association for failing to provide adequate support, a devastated Hannay insisted last night he did not deserve to be playing park football but would not be walking out on the club.
"I'd like it not to get to the point where legal action is taken – that would be the worst case scenario – but it would be good if we could all sit down and get the situation sorted out," he said. "No one wants to be somewhere they're not wanted.
"I don't see myself as a park footballer and the form I was showing with Cronulla didn't warrant me playing park football, either.
"I'll play footy for whoever I have to because I love the game but I'd like us to reach some sort of settlement so we can move on."
Hannay admits he is running out of options after joining the Sharks from North Queensland this season.
"I haven't heard anything – there has been no indication that anything is going to change," he said.
"I haven't spoken to anyone at Cronulla for three weeks but that's just the way it is these days. It's a business and its fairly cut-throat.
"Once they decide to do something there's not much else you can do so I'm just doing what's being asked of me."
But RLPA president Matthew Rodwell last night warned that Hannay might be forced to play local football again next season after Stuart said he would not be releasing the centre early.
"Ricky basically outlined that the club was well within its right to enforce the stipulations of Josh's contract and he is basically resigned to the fact that they'll be paying Josh for the next 18 months," Rodwell said.
"It's not looking good for Josh because I reviewed his contract yesterday and it is heavily weighted in the club's favour.
"It states that the player can be asked to play in any related competition, so I don't know what sort of recourse he has."
His comments have incensed Banaghan who claimed the RLPA had let Hannay down by not taking a stand against the Sharks.
"This was their chance to show what they're capable of and what have they done? They're acting more like mice than men," he said.
Banaghan also confirmed that he was on the verge of taking legal action against Cronulla for failing to honour their side of the agreement.
Hannay has played just three first grade games this season.
"It would appear that we have a case against Cronulla Rugby League Football Club in this case," Banaghan said. "We're working through the process now and I suspect there could be something served on Cronulla in the near future.
"Everyone has been jumping up and down about player behaviour the past few days but what about club behaviour?
Have the players got any rights?
"Apparently Josh isn't good enough to play reserve grade at the moment. You've got to pick players on merit and if you don't then you're on dangerous ground."
Pierce last night denied Hannay would be forced to stay with the club.
"Josh is a good young bloke and we'd like to sort it out," he said.
