After finally sorting out the saga that was his aborted switch to St George Illawarra, Ronald Volkman is focusing on the future.
The Dragons have entered into a confidential settlement with Volkman, eight months after he was trumpeted as a key signing for the club. The injury that scuppered the deal, a contentious shoulder injury, has been repaired and the former New Zealand Warrior has resumed contact training in a bid to find a NRL club for 2025.
“Everything is all done, I’m grateful for that,” Volkman told this masthead. “I’m keen to see what the next few months look like.
“Just looking at some of the games this year, seeing some of the boys burst onto the scene, it’s given me extra motivation to kick on.
“Once I get that opportunity, I will give it my all. Rugby league isn’t forever, it’s short-term in your life and I want to make the most out of it.”
In a career spanning just five NRL games to date, Volkman has seen it all. The fickle nature of the business revealed itself when he was left out of pocket to the tune of $175,000 after his would-be employers, the Dragons, pulled out of a deal when it became apparent the Samoan international’s shoulder required surgery. The issue of who should pay the shortfall was resolved after the Rugby League Players’ Association [RLPA] raised a dispute on his behalf.
Ronald Volkman wants a fresh start in the NRL.Credit: Rhett Wyman
“The details of arrangements relating to Ronald are confidential,” an RLPA spokesperson said. “However, we can confirm that he received compensation as a result of suffering serious injury which meant he was unable to play this season … We are excited for what the future holds for Ronald as he is a very talented young player.”
Volkman said that with the assistance of the RLPA - “I can’t stress enough how much they have helped me” - he is now in a position to have another crack in the NRL.
“My headspace of getting back into the NRL is about getting somewhere, having a fresh start,” he said.
“Honestly, I would say I haven’t really given it my all yet, in terms of getting a proper opportunity week-in, week-out to build that confidence from an NRL perspective.”
‘Once I get that opportunity, I will give it my all. Rugby league isn’t forever ... I want to make the most out of it.’
Ronald Volkman
The playmaker is looking to return to the game when many of the best halves are entering their twilight years. Shaun Johnson, Adam Reynolds, Daly Cherry-Evans, Chad Townsend, Kieran Foran, Luke Keary and Ben Hunt will soon be looking for a new generation to pass the baton to, and Volkman wants to pick it up.
“There’s a lot of veterans coming to the back end of their careers, anything can happen,” he said.
“At this very moment, I’m training to keep my foot in that door. When that door opens, I’m going to take it with both hands.”
One of those established stars, Johnson, has commenced his farewell tour. Volkman said he was grateful for the assistance the Warriors veteran provided when both were at the club.
“Coming up from a union background, I didn’t know too much about rugby league,” Volkman said.
“Once I started at the Warriors, ‘SJ’ taught me everything that I know now in the game.
“He makes a lot of time, not just for myself, but for everyone in the team. Just his genuine care, sharing his knowledge, his ups and downs, has helped me as a footballer on and off the field.
“It’s something that I’m grateful for and will never take for granted.”
Volkman has dropped down to his playing weight of 92kg after working out twice a day at the Final Round Gym at Hoxton Park.
“We’ve progressed to some wrestling techniques in the gym, it’s been good,” he said.
“My time off has been about training, spending time with family and that’s about it.”
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