Newcastle winger Nathan Ross erred in publicly complaining about his pay packet and could face a club-imposed sanction, coach Nathan Brown has said.
Ross on Wednesday threatened to consider asking for a release from the final year of his contract in 2018 should the club fail to upgrade his contract.
His comments displeased Brown, who on Thursday failed to guarantee Ross' spot to face Penrith on Sunday.
"We'll keep what we're going to do with that in-house and we'll move forward," Brown said.
Brown pointed to the fluid nature of next year's salary cap, which has yet to be determined as the NRL and players' union continue talks on a new collective bargaining agreement.
The former St George star said not since the darks days of Super League will the game experience such in increase in player payments, with the 2018 cap to go as high as $9 million.
However, Brown said Ross went the wrong way in agitating for a pay rise.
"Firstly, I think we're probably in a rare situation at the moment," Brown said.
"For all clubs, the cap's going to rise a rather large portion, whether it's 20 or 25 per cent, roughly in that vicinity.
"We haven't seen this happen probably since the Super League days.
"And, rightly so, players that are on contract and probably not earning what their current market value, is would probably like to get a piece of the pie.
"We're seeing this at every club, it's not only the Rossy situation.
"But there's certainly ways you handle it and I'd suggest Rossy didn't handle it in the correct manner."
Last year Ross re-signed with the club on a two-year deal after cementing his spot on the left wing, and leads the Knights this year in tries, metres and line breaks.
He revealed rival clubs had inquired about his services.
"I'm not asking for a million dollars like all these other guys," he told the Newcastle Herald.
"I'm not even asking for half of that. I don't operate like that.
"I just want what is fair and to set my family up.
"In November I can talk to other clubs. I hope it doesn't get to that.
"I had some interest from England before I recommitted to the Knights and have some bigger clubs looking at me now."
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