Your word is your bond.
That's Cooper Cronk's approach to NRL contracts amid speculation that Queensland Origin teammate Daly Cherry-Evans is considering turning his back on a deal to join Gold Coast next year in order to stay with Manly.
While Cronk isn't a fan of players reneging on deals, he believes the NRL's contract system needs fixing to take away that option.
"If you have given your word to a club, you follow through with it," Cronk told Triple M on Sunday.
"Your reputation is probably worth more to me than any sort of extra money that can come in afterwards.
"But let's not all throw the player under the bus here. Let's say that the system is to blame as well.
"What kind of system would you have in place that allows a player to make a decision and then give a cooling off period of time so things can change."
Cronk has a solution to the NRL's so-called "round-13 rule" which he believes isn't fair on anybody in rugby league, including the fans.
"I think it's plain and simple. You sign a contract ... you register it and that's the decision made and you stick by it," he said.
"I think before you make a decision, you get every little bit of information possible before sitting down and making a decision with your family and friends."
Cronk has been disappointed with the coverage surrounding Cherry-Evans as he sorted out his playing future.
"The Daly Cherry-Evans I know isn't the one that's being painted in the media. He's a humble guy, really down to earth and he's a damn good kid and I've got a lot of time for him," he said.
"Whatever decision Daly makes, he's going to be on a really good wicket ... you just try and do it the right way and I wish him all the best.
"I'll send him a text and hopefully he makes the right decision."
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