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Queensland player Greg Inglis (right) in action during Queensland's defeat over New South Wales in the 2nd State of Origin match between against New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Wednesday, June 16, 2010. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
The signing of Greg Inglis could prove to be one of the most important in the history of the Brisbane Broncos. In one (albeit very expensive) foul swoop the Broncos have potentially found the piece of the puzzle which will return the club to their halcyon days of the early 90s when they were the benchmark for rugby league.
Broncos fans can be elated, Inglis joins a team that will have forwards like Ben Hannant, Corey Parker and Sam Thaiday to lay a platform and some of the best young talent in the competition like Matt Gillett, Andrew McCullough and Josh Hoffman establishing themselves.
Let’s face it, a venue like Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium is a fitting place for someone of Inglis’ talents.
To be in the marketing department for the Broncos is the 2011 season may well become one of the easiest jobs in the country.
Somewhat disturbingly though the Broncos team suddenly looks pretty expensive across the board and you could argue there is an irony in the idea that Inglis was released by one club with cap problems and the talent distribution system of the cap means the player ends up at one of the most powerful clubs in the competition.
It’s not like he joined Brett White in Canberra to give the Raiders a red hot chance for next year.
It also seems a bit odd that a payment by the “Thoroughbreds” (that group of Brisbane businessmen who seem to crop up every time the Broncos need a few bucks… no pun intended) is allowed under the cap.
While Channel Nine have also chipped in with some money for his media work. Pardon my cynicism, but I can’t quite see GI being hailed as “the next great comic talent for the Footy Show” any time soon nor can I see him happily talking about golf swings and failed horse races with Andrew Johns in the commentary box given their recent history.
However, one must assume that Ian Schubert will have approved the deal so all is surely above board.
But there you go, the game’s best player goes from one News Ltd club to the other. Murdoch wins again.
Can I also submit that I found the whole claims of Inglis suddenly wanting to be in Brisbane to be near his fiancé a bit weird. Not that it should be weird for a bloke to want to be near his better half to-be but has anyone asked why she jumped town when he at the time had two years left on his deal with Melbourne if they hadn’t worked through the “long-distance” angle.
Also let’s say Melbourne suddenly found an extra 100K or the Broncos had not found the missing wedge; would the happy couple suddenly decided they could handle Skype?
It just hit me as a massive red herring.
Maybe it’s best not to ask too many questions.
One thing is for certain the Broncos have been able to achieve the near impossible and improve their squad after the loss of Israel Folau.
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