WARRINGTON Wolves deny they have given Michael Monaghan a two-week window to explore interest in his services in Australia.
The Wolves scrum half is never out of the spotlight in the media Down Under, with rumours starting almost the day he arrived that he wants to go home.
Reports surfaced over the weekend that the former Manly star has been given an opportunity to negotiate terms with NRL clubs.
The reports would appear to be an extension to all the speculation surrounding possible outcomes from the Inland Revenue looking to close a loophole in which players’ earnings are topped up with image rights payments.
But the word from the Wolves boardroom and Monaghan, who has a further two years remaining on his four-year contract, is that he is happy at Warrington.
Monaghan, one of a number of players at the club whose pay could be cut as a result of the potential Inland Revenue stance, said: “I’m here to play and the rest of the image rights stuff is for my club and manager to sort out.
“I’m really committed to playing here and that’s where my focus is. I can’t control what’s going on with the image rights situation, which is out of the club’s hands and my hands.
“I’m just going to keep enjoying my footy and just see what happens.
“The club have been great about it. It’s something that has been thrust upon them and us.
“We’ve just got to roll with it, see where it takes you and I know all the boys are real keen to stay together and keep playing.”
Monaghan is under a third Wolves coach since joining the club at the start of 2008 and said he feels happy that the club are going in the right direction after poor results at the start of the campaign.
“Definitely. The staff we’ve got here at the moment are doing a really good job,” he said.
“Everything’s going well. It’s that consistency off the pitch that’s going to help with consistency on the pitch.
“I’m certainly happy here and we’re even getting some sun which helps lift the spirits every now and then.”
Wolves head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith was asked about the Australian media suggestions, specifically the ‘two-week window’, in Sunday’s post-match Press conference.
He said: “I don’t know about two weeks.
“Situations have changed in all sorts of areas regarding taxation and I don’t want to get bogged down in all that.
“We’re trying to be fair on all our players in the best way, like we always are.
“If anything happens, we’ll let you know but I’m pretty confident that everything will be sorted in a little while.
“If there’s anything to talk about, we’ll talk about it then.”
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