HAZEM El Masri has reportedly knocked back a significantly reduced offer to return to his role as an NRL community ambassador.

El Masri, who was stood down after being charged with assaulting his ex-wife last October, rejected a deal worth 80 per cent less than his original salary, according to Fairfax Media.

The former Canterbury star, who was revered as a devout Muslim and one of the NRL’s best behaved throughout his 14-year career, had the charges against him dropped by NSW Police last month. But the 40-year-old is still angry at the way the NRL handled his case after he was charged last year, at the same time they offered Sydney Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall the presumption of innocence in a similar case.

And his frustration has been compounded by the fact he has only been offered $350 per visit this year, which would equate to $10,000-a-year — or approximately 20 per cent of his original contract.

“They have been given another chance to stand by my side and they still haven’t. It’s hard to take,” El Masri told Fairfax Media.

“Instead of standing by my side and moving forwards, they have gone backwards. I can’t comprehend it, to be honest. It’s hard to swallow.” An NRL spokesman claimed the reduced offer was due to the fact the governing body already had a full book of ambassadors for the 2016 season.