The NRL has blocked Greg Inglis's $1.8 million move to South Sydney in another stunning twist to the centre's ugly contract saga.
NRL auditor Ian Schubert is set to prevent the realisation of Souths' $1.8 million contract with Inglis, penned after his shock walkout on Brisbane Broncos earlier this month.
And the Rabbitohs may have their own Hollywood star and owner Russell Crowe to blame.
It is now highly unlikely Inglis will play for the Rabbitohs in 2011 with Schubert resolved to can the foundation club's proposed three-year deal for the injured centre, who still remains contracted to Melbourne Storm.
The sobering reality is that Inglis could be lost to the NRL altogether, with French rugby union clubs left as his likely suitors.
Crowe's boast on Jay Leno's Tonight Show in the US has helped skittled the Rabbitohs deal - with the NRL's alarm bells ringing when the South Sydney owner revealed Inglis had been secured for three years on a deal worth "roughly about $1.8 million".
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The $600,000-a-season figure Crowe alluded to ridicules Souths' attempt to have Inglis squeezed under next year's salary cap on a base salary of only $190,000.
It was to be topped up by numerous third-party deals that will now be ruled as obligatory under the salary cap.
"I hope for Greg's sake it gets sorted out pretty quickly because we certainly want to see him be able to settle down and concentrate on his footy," NRL boss David Gallop said.
"It must be frustrating for him (Inglis) but he has got an agent and, frankly, that's what agents are for."
The Rabbitohs would have to shed several blue-ribbon stars, headlined by club skipper Roy Asotasi and Maroons Origin forward Dave Taylor, to keep Inglis in 2011. It remains unclear if Souths are willing to do so.
"It's frustrating Souths paraded him in their colours when it's not resolved," Gallop said. "It's true that Greg's contract position is not resolved.
"Everyone involved has known for some time he is under contract with Melbourne Storm and needs both a release from that contract and the approval of the salary cap auditor."
The ineligible Rabbitohs deal shapes as another huge blow to Inglis, who will undergo hip surgery today after earlier reconstructive surgery on both shoulders. His weight has already ballooned to 118kg.
South Sydney have since released a statement claiming they are still in process of finishing the Inglis deal.
"The situation has not changed since the Rabbitohs announced that Inglis had agreed to terms with the Club on 12 November," the statement said.
"The Rabbitohs are following the normal procedures of signing a player to an NRL contract and lodging that contract with the NRL for registration.
"A short form contract was lodged with the NRL on Monday 15 November. Within 20 business days of this contract being lodged, the Rabbitohs are required by the Rules to lodge a full NRL playing contract. The Club will be lodging this contract within the next 24 hours.
"Following the lodgment of the full NRL playing contract, NRL Salary Cup Auditor Ian Schubert will review the contract in accordance with Rules.
"In the meantime, the Club continues to work constructively with the Melbourne Storm towards gaining a release for Inglis from his existing contract.
"The Rabbitohs hope to have a favourable resolution to this situation within the next seven days.
