Bid for GI above board: Souths boss
Greg Prichard
November 10, 2010
'He isn't selfish . . . he's simply querying the figure' - Shane Richardson. Photo: Getty Images
SOUTH SYDNEY boss Shane Richardson has broken his silence on the club's bid for Greg Inglis, declaring they won't have to pay the superstar's legal bills to sign him and that the Test centre would have been lost to AFL or rugby union already were he only interested in money.
Richardson, who had remained quiet on the negotiations until last night, defended Inglis against what he regarded as grossly unfair criticisms, and refuted suggestions Souths must be rorting to fit him under the salary cap.
"The most sensible thing I've heard said through all of this is Anthony Mundine's comment that we should just be thankful Greg Inglis isn't going to quit league," Richardson said. "Everyone in league should be proud that he doesn't want to go, instead of smacking him around the ears because he's taking a bit of time to sort out his future.
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"I know he's had big offers from the AFL – I know who they're from. I know he's had big offers from rugby union in France.
"We haven't signed Greg yet but we're optimistic it will happen. We'll be sitting down with his manager, Allan Gainey, starting tomorrow, and hopefully we'll get it done by the end of the week."
Melbourne, the club where Inglis made his name, yesterday gave Souths permission to officially negotiate with Inglis after the player's deal to join Brisbane fell through.
Richardson said Souths could fit in Inglis because of the combination of a $100,000 general increase in the cap for next year, a $150,000 increase in marquee player allowances, the fact $300,000 was saved when several players were not retained and the establishment of cap-exempt allowances for up to three cars for players.
He said if the Rabbitohs signed Inglis, the deal would hopefully be for three years, with the payment to be slightly restricted under the cap for next year, and increased when the club had more room under the cap for 2012 and '13.
Richardson assured Souths fans that no player – least of all captain Roy Asotasi, as had been speculated – would have to be cut to make room for Inglis under the cap, saying: "Roy isn't going anywhere. He'll be the captain at Souths again next year."
Inglis is known for his work with the indigenous community, and Richardson said the work the Rabbitohs do in the same field – through the club's Souths Cares program – were among the factors that most attracted Inglis to the club.
"Souths are really proud of what we do in that area," Richardson said. "And I know for a fact that if Greg joins our club, he wants to get involved in that. Anthony Mundine has helped us with that program and Greg is big on the importance of doing that work as well.
"Greg Inglis seems to be getting portrayed in the negative by some people at the moment but all he is trying to do is make the right decision for his future. He isn't selfish, he isn't a mercenary, and he's not saying he doesn't owe some money in legal bills – he's simply querying the figure."
The $113,000 bill in question is for the legal defence Inglis employed against charges of assaulting his fiancee, Sally Robinson. It has been reported that Inglis won't be cleared to play for any club in the NRL until that bill is paid but Richardson is adamant that is incorrect.
"We're working through that with Greg's solicitor, Keith Bagley, and in consultation with the NRL," Richardson said. "We're not going to pay the legal bill, and our understanding is that our contract negotiations with Greg are a separate issue to the legal bill.
"Greg accepts he owes some money but it's a matter of how much. He received a bill, and he's querying it, which he's entitled to do – the same as if you got a plumber and you thought the bill was extreme. That will be worked out but in the meantime our legal advice is that it can't stop Greg from signing a deal with Souths.
"Our deal, should Greg sign it, will be all above board and we will have no problem with the NRL examining it
