Souths offer up sacrificial Bunnies
Trade bait ... Beau Champion has been told to look elsewhere by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Picture: Phil Hillyard
Source: The Daily Telegraph
Trade bait ... Beau Champion has been told to look elsewhere by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Picture: Phil Hillyard
Source: The Daily Telegraph
SOUTH Sydney have told three high-profile players they are free to leave the club as they aim to free up $500,000 in their salary cap to sign Greg Inglis.
The NRL yesterday refused to register Inglis's contract with Souths because of concerns over a number of third-party sponsorship deals. The Rabbitohs are now scrambling to free up space in their salary cap and have told Beau Champion, Ben Lowe and Michael Crocker that they can look for a new club.
The NRL yesterday claimed Souths had negotiated third-party payments for Inglis without the knowledge of his manager Allan Gainey.
"The National Rugby League has today advised the South Sydney club that it must include the full value of a number of third-party agreements relating to Greg Inglis within the salary cap," the NRL said in a statement.
"The effect of the decision is that South Sydney will be required to advise the NRL as to how the club proposes complying with the $4.1 million cap in 2011 before Greg Inglis's contract will be registered.
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"The announcement follows a legal assessment of a number of documents [some received as late as Friday afternoon] and a request from South Sydney that the NRL's determination be announced at the earliest possible opportunity."
The Sunday Telegraph has also learned:
* The contract submitted to the NRL only had Inglis being paid $190,000 under the salary cap, with the rest of his deal made up from third-party payments;
* The NRL wants Inglis to come under the cap at no less than $500,000 in a move that will force the club to offload $310,000 worth of playing talent from its roster;
* The Rabbitohs have told Champion, Lowe and Crocker that they will be released from the final year of their contracts should they be able to find a deal elsewhere.
It leaves the Rabbitohs relying on other clubs to sign at least two of their players to fit Inglis under the cap.
The Cowboys, Eels and Melbourne Storm are understood to be the only clubs with money left to sign any of the Rabbitohs players.
Champion's manager Sam Ayoub yesterday said his client would consider leaving the club if he could find a suitable deal.
"At this point in time Beau has a contract with the Rabbitohs for 2011," Ayoub said. "He will honour that contract. In saying that, if Beau can secure a suitable longer-term deal at another club we will consider it.
"Souths have a number of players coming off contract at the end of next year and they are in a position where they may not be able to keep them."
NRL chief executive David Gallop said the game's governing body would not make any concessions for Inglis or the Rabbitohs.
The Test star is now facing an uncertain future and may be forced to leave the code.
"Given the circumstances under which Greg became available to South Sydney, nobody can have been under any doubt about the importance of ensuring his contract complied with the cap," Gallop said.
"The NRL had already required the Broncos to include third-party agreements within their calculation of the contract value and was insisting legal fees also be included when those negotiations ceased.
"South Sydney had been advised to have all proposed offers reviewed by the NRL before making any commitments. They chose not to do so and it has taken some time to access all details of the agreements.
"That said, the cap has to apply fairly to all clubs and one club cannot be allowed to do what others were prevented from doing.
"The rules on third-party deals are clear."
The Rabbitohs also issued a statement saying they were disappointed with the NRL's decision to block the Inglis deal.
"The South Sydney Rabbitohs are disappointed and disagree with the decision of the NRL to include some of Greg Inglis's third-party agreements in the club's salary cap for the 2011 season," the Rabbitohs statement said.
"The Rabbitohs will assess their salary cap position as determined by the NRL's salary cap auditor today and make a decision on a path forward over the next seven days.
"The Rabbitohs will do everything they can to keep Greg Inglis in rugby league."
Souths CEO Shane Richardson was unwilling to comment while Gainey did not return calls yesterday.
