Newcastle Jets have stopped paying Jason Culina while they gird their loins for the inevitable dispute over how, and why, they unilaterally ripped up his three-year contract four days before the start of the season.

Culina, meantime, lays low in his Merewether home, dealing with the pain of a leg he broke by choice two weeks ago in an effort to play again, and the hurt of the football world thinking he's finished when he's convinced he isn't. And, outside, some local heroes have decided it's fun to egg-bomb his house just to rub salt into the wound. Ugly business? It doesn't get much uglier.

Sacked ... Jason Culina. Credit:Darren Pateman

Culina started the year as a Socceroo, a member of the Asian Cup squad, and a marquee player in the A-League. He's going to end it in rehab after a second major operation on his knee, his own club insinuating he's deceived them, and Nathan Tinkler claiming he might not play again. Tinkler might know a lot about making money, but he knows next to nothing about football. He is powerful, though and, right now, nobody seems willing to challenge his verdict. If Tinkler suggests Culina is past tense, it must be true.

The dispute process which is about to be activated by the player's union, Professional Footballers Australia - possibly as early as today - will help to clear the clouds of confusion. When all is revealed, it may just be that Culina's medical records were made available to the Jets when he signed from Gold Coast United.