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The Brisbane Broncos have sensationally pulled the pin on their offer to superstar Greg Inglis after he failed to meet the club’s ultimatum to sign a two-year NRL deal on Saturday.
Brisbane put the deadline to Inglis on Friday, giving him 24 hours to sign a $1.2 million two-year contract with Brisbane.
The club had waited patiently for 14 weeks for Inglis to make a decision, but the Broncos withdrew the offer to the Queensland and Australian centre on Saturday afternoon.
With Inglis understood to have little interest in a move to French rugby union, he could be set to join Russell Crowe at South Sydney, although the Rabbitohs might struggle to fit him under the salary cap.
Inglis, who was to replace AFL-bound Israel Folau, has been embroiled in a dispute with Melbourne over the payment of a $113,000 legal bill incurred in employing a QC to successfully defend him against assault allegations last year.
However, Inglis could still have signed Brisbane’s contract, which then could have been lodged with the NRL and registered once the dispute between Inglis and his club was resolved.
But the Broncos have decided to walk away from the deal.
“We have worked long and hard on these negotiations, as have the other parties,” Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said.
“But with training already underway and no sign of the matter being resolved in a manner that would benefit the Broncos and its playing roster, it is time for the club to move on.
“We think it is an honour to represent our club and thus felt compelled to place a deadline of this afternoon for Greg to sign the contract he and his manager had agreed to.
“He was unable to commit to the club so we felt we had to make this call.”
Inglis is still contracted to the Melbourne Storm, who told AAP they will review their salary cap but have little chance of fitting him in, meaning he will become a free agent on Monday.
It was believed he had discussions with French rugby union club Toulon, but a move to Europe is unlikely, while he has previously attracted the attention of AFL clubs.
The Broncos insist they are happy with their squad and only chased Inglis because of his standing in the game.
“When the possibility of Greg coming to the Broncos arose some months ago, the club always said it was entering negotiations only because of the stature of the player involved,” Cullen said.
“But we also said at the time that we were very happy and confident in the squad we had assembled.
“That statement still holds today.
“We know that this move will ensure the club is able to keep our current crop of talent together for many seasons to come.”
The news will stun Broncos fans who had been banking on Inglis, rugby league’s No.1 game breaker, to join the six-time premiers next season.
Inglis, who has been in Brisbane for more than a week, could not be contacted for comment.
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