NRL says no to Inglis, so sudden player sale looms
SOUTH SYDNEY face the prospect of shedding players to accommodate Greg Inglis after the NRL blocked his proposed move to Redfern.
In a scathing assessment of the Rabbitohs' handling of the transfer saga, the NRL has insisted the full value of a number of Inglis's third-party agreements be covered by the salary cap. The Sun-Herald understands four contracts were scrutinised by cap auditor Ian Schubert:
❏ A $100,000 deal revolving around Aboriginal welfare with the NSW Health Department;
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❏ A $50,000 deal with ANZ Stadium;
❏ A $25,000 deal with WA Spit Roast;
❏ A $25,000 deal with an inner-city car dealership.
All of them raised red flags at league headquarters.
Despite being warned not to make announcements until the NRL scrutinised the contracts, Souths co-owner Russell Crowe boasted about the $1.8 million deal to an audience of millions on US television's Tonight Show with Jay Leno last month.
Schubert found deals submitted as ''arm's length'' third-party agreements were in fact drafted by the club and, in some cases, revised with the sponsor without the involvement of Inglis's manager, Allan Gainey. The contracts were also in place before a playing contract was signed.
Souths issued a brief statement yesterday expressing their disappointment with the decision and their desire to keep Inglis in league.
Their best chance of pushing the deal through is to offload at least one of their star players, something Souths CEO Shane Richardson initially vowed not to do. It is understood some of the club's biggest names are on heavily back-ended deals next year, with Roy Asotasi on $450,000, Michael Crocker $300,000 and John Sutton $400,000. Beau Champion was recently shopped to Parramatta but they baulked at his asking price. The Eels are more interested in another Souths centre, Taioalo ''Junior'' Vaivai. Utility Jamie Simpson and fullback Rhys Wesser (about $160,000) could be other options to be released.
Given that Inglis only became a free agent as a result of the Storm salary cap debacle, the NRL has taken its time considering the issue. Yet Souths pressed the league for a speedy determination - although some legal documents were only made available on Friday afternoon - prompting yesterday's announcement.
''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,'' said NRL chief executive David Gallop.
''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.
"It is unfortunate for Greg that he is in the middle of a difficult situation, and I assured him this week that these issues do not reflect on him but that they are matters for clubs in assessing the offers that they make.
''He is one of the game's most highly valued players, and we have assured him of that in no uncertain terms. 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.
"We have worked with clubs and players by substantially increasing the amount that sponsors can pay players through the $300,000 marquee player allowance in 2011 but without rules on third-party agreements there would be no point in having a salary cap system."
The Sun-Herald revealed earlier this month that Souths might attempt to resolve the impasse by legally challenging the existence of the salary cap, with their chairman, Nick Pappas, likely to lead the charge.
The only NRL club with enough money left under the cap for Inglis is Parramatta, although it is unclear if coach Stephen Kearney, who worked with Inglis at the Storm, is interested.
Inglis, who reneged on an agreement with Brisbane, is still no closer to finding a home for next season.
The NRL's decision also clouds the future of New Zealand hooker Issac Luke, who was poised to extend his contract until the end of 2015.
though you're certainly not quite in his ballpark just yet.
