Chris Heighington says he’s confident he did nothing wrong during his time at the Sharks

Chris Heighington has complete confidence any third party agreements he had during his time at the Cronulla Sharks were signed off and above board.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 02: Chris Heighington of the Sharks celebrates winning the 2016 NRL Grand Final match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Melbourne Storm at ANZ Stadium on October 2, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Chris Heighington has complete confidence any third party agreements he had during his time at the Cronulla Sharks were signed off and above board.

The now-Knights forward was disappointed his name had been dragged into the Sharks’ salary cap investigation on the eve of his final NRL game.

It was reported on Friday that a $50,000 third party payment to him was what led to new CEO Barry Russell self-reporting the club.

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Heighington was adamant all his deals were signed off by the NRL and the club.

“I was surprised when I woke up and saw my head all over the paper there,” he said.

“Every third party I’ve had has all been organised by my manager, signed off by the NRL, signed off by the Cronulla Sharks so I can wake up every morning knowing I’ve done nothing wrong.

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“It’s a hard one, because if the NRL sign off on it, the Cronulla Sharks sign off on it, my manager signs off on it, where’s the confusion there?

“It’s a bit disappointing that it’s happened the eve of my last game. That’s footy, people have jobs, they’ve got to write stories rightly or wrongly, I’m just here to celebrate tomorrow’s game with my family and all my teammates.”

Tomorrow’s Old Boys day in Newcastle is a big one for Heighington and teammate Jacob Lillyman.

Both announced their retirements at the end of this season meaning it’s their NRL farewell with the Knights out of the finals.

Heighington was part of the side that won the 2016 grand final. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

Lillyman will miss the chance to play his final game after being ruled out because of a pelvis problem, but Heighington has been named on the bench in what would be his 338th match.

Heighington is no chance to continue lacing up the boots next year, ruling out playing park footy on the Central Coast. He will instead focus on his elite performance business and an strength and conditioning role with the Knights.

He did remember, though, how ex-first grade players going back to play for local clubs shaped his own career.

“I think every team on the Central Coast has contacted me, but I don’t want to go down that track. That’s where you get injured,” Heighington said.

Heighington will play his final game on Saturday. AAP Image/Craig Golding.

“I do remember Mark Geyer playing for Umina when I was eight or nine. I was on the hill and that was an experience. He chased a guy up the beach actually and then come back and had a carry and all these Terrigal Sharks ripped into him.

“I got the opportunity to play with Cliff Lyons in first grade when I was 17, he taught me a hell of a lot. I was playing in the centres and he was five-eighth.

“I remember going to the first training session and he goes, ‘you got any plays?’ And I was a really shy kid and wouldn’t answer him.

“He goes, ‘I’m not going to leave here until you tell me some plays’. He made me come up with some and we got them on in the game and ended up scoring a heap of tries.

“I just grew this confidence. I don’t know what it was. He believed in me and kicked on my career.”

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Originally published as Chris Heighington says he’s confident he did nothing wrong during his time at the Sharks