The proposed $1.8 million transfer of Greg Inglis to South Sydney is currently at risk, following the NRL’s issuance of a formal “please explain” memo to the Rabbitohs regarding the third-party agreements that support the deal.
This latest development emphasizes the harsh reality for Rabbitohs fans, as the club’s projections for the 2011 salary cap appear set to be exceeded—even with club officials asserting that they will not need to release any players to accommodate their high-profile addition.
After examining Souths’ contract draft submitted last Friday, NRL auditors have raised concerns and are now seeking more detailed information regarding the complex external agreements that were not included in Souths’ initial abbreviated version presented on November 15.
Further documentation to clarify the series of arrangements Souths plans to leverage to supplement Inglis’s relatively modest base salary of just $190,000 has been requested by the NRL.
“We’ve requested additional details regarding the third-party agreements,” confirmed NRL chief David Gallop.
In a separate turn of events, reports suggest that an informal agreement has been reached between the Rabbitohs and Melbourne Storm concerning the outstanding legal fees related to Inglis, which total $113,000.
Although Melbourne has yet to officially release Inglis, the complicated situation has shifted focus to the NRL’s discretionary decisions regarding the entirety of his agreement with Souths.
All third-party arrangements established solely upon the condition of Inglis joining Souths will be included in their 2011 salary cap.
The information requested from the club is now crucial in determining Inglis’s future.
At the same time, Gallop declined to comment on whether Inglis’s representatives were attempting to leverage the situation against the league.
This follows a public caution from manager Allan Gainey, who warned that if the NRL fails to authorize the transaction, Inglis might consider abandoning the sport altogether.
Gainey asserted that such an outcome would represent “the greatest disgrace ever,” while emphasizing that “the NRL will exercise their discretion reasonably… and in the best interests of the game.”
However, the NRL, frustrated by Gainey’s failure to resolve the matter over the past four months, has placed the responsibility back on the Rabbitohs with Monday’s latest directive.
The final rulings by Schubert regarding the salary cap implications of Inglis’s contract could potentially disrupt the Bunnies’ current salary cap calculations, necessitating the removal of existing contracted players.
The mismanagement of the legal issue has resulted in significant repercussions for the player, bringing the 2009 court case back into public scrutiny.
Speculation arises that Gainey may have lost control over his prominent client, as attempts to convince Inglis to honor his written commitments with the Broncos proved unsuccessful.