The long-running Greg Inglis saga is over with the superstar rugby league Test centre heading to Brisbane next season.
As first reported by AAP on July 17, Inglis is believed to have agreed to a two-year deal until 2012 when he’ll re-assess his future with an independent commission running the NRL and bigger salary cap operating once a new TV rights deal locked in.
Melbourne confirmed on Tuesday that it would release Inglis and Brett White from the rest of their contracts after this season, as it submitted its playing roster for 2011.
It’s believed Brisbane closed the Inglis deal on Monday after tapping into its $300,000 marquee player allowance to bump up its offer to Inglis by an additional $45,000.
The marquee player allowance lets clubs to top up deals to players.
It’s been doubled from $150,000 to $300,000 in 2011 and can be used on one player or up to 15 players on a club’s list.
Melbourne’s confidence about keeping Inglis soared over the weekend following talks with NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert when there was no directive they would have to disband their Fab Four of Inglis, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk.
But their last ditch bid to retain him by releasing a string of players was trumped by the Broncos’ revised two-year package plus Inglis’ desire to be with his fiancee Sally Robinson who has just started a new job in Brisbane.
The opportunity to share in Darren Lockyer’s final NRL seasons also greatly appealed to Inglis.
Fellow suitors Gold Coast made a late offer which included a better second year arrangement financially and South Sydney owner Russell Crowe also showed interest but Brisbane were always confident of securing Inglis.
They had been sitting back waiting for his manager Allan Gainey to make the final call, which he did on Monday.
Brisbane then played their final ace and the deal was done.
While they said publicly they would not budge on their final offer, they would have been mad to have missed out on a player of Inglis’s talents for the sake of $50,000.
Inglis’s move to the six-time premiers will further strain relations between the two power clubs of the past two decades which hit rock bottom after the Broncos beat Melbourne in the 2006 grand final.
His signing however will seriously ease coach Ivan Henjak’s pain at losing giant young centre Israel Folau to the AFL next season.
With Bulldogs representative prop Ben Hannant set to return to the Brisbane, the Broncos will be a real force in 2011 and beyond with so many exciting young players on their roster.
The likes of fullback Josh Hoffman, winger Jharal Yow Yea, hooker Andrew McCullough, props Mitchell Dodds and Josh McGuire and utility players Alex Glenn, Ben Hunt and rookie-of-the-year favourite Matt Gillett, Brisbane all have a bright futures and have all been signed to extended deals.
The addition of a world class player such as Inglis ensures Brisbane’s backline retains its strike out wide with Justin Hodges preparing to return from a snapped Achilles which has kept him off the field in 2010.
Storm chief executive Ron Gauci said the club now expected to be salary cap-compliant in 2011 after releasing Inglis and fellow representative star White (Canberra).
“We have undergone a thorough and transparent process that was always designed to ensure that we meet our salary cap obligations for 2011,” Gauci said.
“This process has considered all matters, including our commercial position, the players’ needs and preferences, as well as our on-field team balance.
“As a result of that thorough and transparent process we anticipate that we will receive NRL sign-off once the club’s final salary cap audit is completed.”
Gauci said there would be no further premature player departure announcements this season, indicating they would retain Smith, Slater and Cronk.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy paid tribute to the departing players.
“The legacy that all of our players who are leaving this club have made on the Melbourne Storm won’t be lost on those still remaining any time soon,” said Bellamy.
“We’re sad to see them go and they’re sad to be going.”
Mr Cool
Guest
I wander id Dolittle and Company will be brought into The Brisbane club at the end of this season, to close out the rumours and prove that News Ltd are running two honest clubs. I'd like to see that.
Bill Baxter
Guest
Stormin Red is right. Of the 4 'stars' I feel that most Storm fans would consider Inglis favourite to be sacrificed. Whilst outstanding some of the time he appears to be disinterested and goes walkabout at other times. Having said that he's been integral to a fine Rugby League side and will be greatly missed alongside the other players who have been forced to find pastures new. Working outside of the salary cap has had its cost!!!.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
King of the GGS .Brisbane and cover ups! I suggest Thaiday/Boyd et al would suggest that was nonsense and ditto alfie langer.Any high profile player just has to pick his nosse in public and it will be front page.Even poor old Lockyer once was in a playful wrestle with someone at a pub,and it was blown out of proportion according to the patrons and pubs employees. I would like to know how you know, there were numerous domestic disturbances by GI.Hearsay,police reports,paper exaggeration,eyewitness account?. I doubt the offer will be down next time on the Tv contracts.The I.C. will be involved in the negotiations not Gallop as one person.There will be no part ownership by News of the NRL(hence no conflict of interest).All FTA Tv networks want a slice of the action this time.ch7 has the money to push the issue ,just as Packer did boosting the contract price for the AFL .
jimbo
Roar Guru
JimC, very interesting that the Aussie Rules didn't make an offer for Inglis although they can afford a lot more than Brisbane paid for him. Maybe its because all the hype surrounding Hunt and Folau hasn't create a mad stampede to Aussie Rules like they hoped, in fact interest in AFL continues to fall in Sydney and Brisbane, especially the TV ratings. The AFL marketing department will have to come up with another idea.
Jeff
Guest
I just hope that Melbourne isn't going to become a feeder club for the rest because they will not dare cheat, whilst the others carry on picking away our better players for more than we can afford. This operation that needs to get it's teams from Queensland and NSW (until the local kids start to come through the system) will always be confronted with 'Homesickness' making it easier for the others to 'poach' the kids away. Perth will experience similar difficulties.
JimC
Guest
Good choice by Inglis. Better than being a walking AFL billboard/freakshow like Folau.
oikee
Guest
He will look good in a Bronco's jersey. Was reading Roy Masters article today. This guy is so bitter, he come up with a summary that the Broncos are over the cap somehow. Mate, they have 3 representative players, Friday folau and Lockyer, and folau is leaving next year, but somehow he made up a story the Broncos must be paying each other player other than those three, 400 thousand plus. ? Maybe he needs to get his calculator out and do Manly, and the Roosters, they both have 7-8 rep players. Time to throw the towel in Roy, your becoming a bitter twisted man.
Mr Cool
Guest
Well said mate.
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
um, yeah, there appears to be heaps of room under that cap. Did the Broncos ask St George how to get people in under a full cap (read Gasnier). I love the "marque" player clause, and the "oh it's ok to get third party payments as long as you tell the NRL clause". The salary cap has me disillusioned - handicapping in sport never really works, if it did all games would be draws and all horse races would be dead-heats. Surely the concept of competition between cities/regions/suburbs is exactly that - a competition - the best team on the day wins and the bragging rites go to the victors. State of Origin never had a salary cap, even in the onset when NSW was full of stars and QLD still won with nobodies - a champion team will beat a team of champions - even if the team of champions cost more.
jeff
Guest
That's Falou and Inglis we have given to the Broncs. wonder who next, my bet Smith. I also doubt that the Bronco fans will YELL CHEAT at him next year,
jeff
Guest
All this supposition is based on Gallop and Co not underselling the product again. I think in these times of financial hardship. the offer will be way down on what people are expecting.
jeff
Guest
With Melbourne paying 1/3rd o his wage. but still a bit SUS. I wonder how much Sally's getting. lol
Dog
Guest
With you all the way on this one, wasn't that long ago that they doubted they could fit Hannant in, but as we all know Brisbane has way too many privaliges as a one city team and always will do, hence never missing the finals in how many years and they say it is now such and even contest.
Stormin Red
Roar Rookie
Good luck to you GI, would love to have seen him stay but if any of the big four had to go, he would be my choice. On his day he is devastating but he doesn’t touch the ball as often out in the centres as the other three do week in week out. He will fit in well with the Broncos though and they will be hard to beat next year. For the Storm, hopefully we can finally start getting ready for next year when we will come back and win our second legitimate premiership. This will inevitably be followed with howls of "they weren't punished" and "they are still cheating", but it will be hard to find a more motivated team next season than the Storm. Also, with Bellamy free from origin and his record now questioned, he will also has a big point to prove. Bring on next season, the quicker this year is forgotten the better.
Justin
Roar Pro
Which made me wonder why Jennings signed such a long term deal when his manger would have little idea about what his club could afford post 2013.
The all new King of the Gorganites
Guest
Makes sense. Brisbane are the masters of covering up there players indiscretions. with his questionable behaviour and numerours domestic disturbacnes - Brisbane is just the place for him!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The reason players(such as inglis) are signing short term,is to ensure they get a slice of the next enhanced Tv contract,and the strong possibility of 2 new teams(meaning more money opportunities).By 2013,the chance of players going to other codes will be reduced dramatically.In fact the main exodus has trundeld across to the ESL.in fact the poaching could go the other way. i predict SBW will be back in NRL colours after the 2011RWC. I suggest Inglis's girlfriend was first second and third in his reason to move,meaning the Storm would have been 4th and Essendon(despite their preparedness to offer a contract) were more a managerial threat than anything concrete .
Republican
Guest
Who cares about the essence of sport anymore. Sport is simply NOT engaging enough for a dumbed down tabloid culture that is obsessed with - money, money, money!
Brett McKay
Guest
So Inglis leaves Smith, Slater and Cronk at Melbourne to join Lockyer, Hodges, Thaiday, Hannant, Parker, and Wallace at Brisbane. Right then.....
Jay
Guest
he could have signed for essendon right now... the recent contracts signed by benji and jennings contain clauses for payrises with future changes to the cap. Mortimer specifically for 2 years so his contract would be renegoiated when the new tv rights is settled. its not only Inglis thats doing it