RLPA boss Matthew Rodwell believes the impasse between Newcastle and unwanted backrower Kirk Reynoldson could come to a head on Tuesday when coach Brian Smith names his NRL side to take on North Queensland.

Smith said after Sunday's embarrassing loss to Penrith that Reynoldson would come under consideration for Friday night's clash, but it remains extremely unlikely the former Melbourne forward will win a reprieve.

Reynoldson hasn't played first grade since it was revealed he was one match short of the 15 games he required to activate the final year on his contract, believed to be worth $200,000 a season.

The Knights claim Reynoldson's non-selection was based purely on form, but that did not explain why he was left out of Premier League on Sunday.

Smith admitted the Knights were short on fit players heading into the clash with the Panthers, with "half a dozen young guys" forced to take pain killing injections just to get on the field.

"With the current form of the Newcastle side, and not isolating any particular individuals, under fair and equal circumstances changes would be made," Rodwell said.

"When you've got a fit and experienced guy waiting in the wings, you'd expect that he would earn a reprieve.

"Some of the comments made by the coach after the game indicated there were 13 players out with injury and a number of players had to take that game with needles.

"You would think certainly from a player welfare aspect, you could prevent at least one needle by bringing in a fit guy.

"Everything that's been said to Kirk has been `this is not about your contract, it is about form.

"I think it might be a defining day tomorrow with the selections."

The latest controversy isn't the first time Reynoldson has been on the outer with Smith. The Toowoomba junior was cut from Parramatta in 2000 when the veteran coach was in charge of the Eels.

Reynoldson didn't manage to make it out of the lower grades at Parramatta before being shown the door, finally cracking it for an NRL debut two years later at the Storm.

Newspaper reports on Monday suggested Reynoldson had been offered a compromise deal - worth between $50,000 and $100,000 - to walk away from the club.

Reynoldson is believed to be contemplating taking legal action against the club, though Rodwell admitted the hard-working forward could find it difficult to base his argument on team selection given their subjective nature.

The Knights received some good news on Monday with stand-in skipper Steve Simpson avoiding a charge after being put on report for a high shot on Sunday.

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