The NRL needs to sanction player agents, if their players break their contract, according to Ryan Girdler.

In light of Valentine Holmes’ decision to leave the Sharks with a year remaining on his contract to pursue an NFL career, Girdler has called on the NRL to take action.

“I just think that there needs to be a lot more onus put on the player agents and managers,” Girdler told Triple M.

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Round 20

“They are the ones that get their bread buttered by the game and every opportunity they get, they seem to use the game as a doormat and I think it is wrong.”

Girdler believes it is the player agents and managers that are bringing these opportunities to the players before their contract is up.

“I’m sure Val (Holmes) isn’t over in other codes or in the US shopping himself around,” Girdler said.

“I’m sure he has people over there doing it and if the player managers are going to shop current players around who are under contract, I think the NRL should sanction the player agents.

“We need to deter the agents from taking our star players away from the game.”

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While Girdler was supportive of players being allowed to chase their dreams and explore opportunities in other codes, he believes they shouldn’t be allowed to break their contract to do so.

“If a player wakes up one day and wants to follow his dream and goes to his agent, the agent will say listen buddy, you’ve still got a year to go on your contract. At the end of your deal we can go and talk to whoever you like,” Girdler said.

“The agent is going to get another good payday, if he gets another good contract with another code, so maybe the onus needs to be put on these managers.

“Don’t forget these are young guys and they need advice and they need people to talk to and I think a lot of them are getting poorly informed.”