Inglis deal on the backburner - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Inglis deal on the backburner

By Wayne Heming 21/07/2010 07:40:21 PM Comments (0)

Superstar Greg Inglis' NRL future is on the backburner while Melbourne settle new chief executive Ron Gauci into one of the toughest jobs in Australian sport.

While the former managing director and Australasian vice-president for IT company Verizon Business was announced to replace disgraced Storm boss Brian Waldron on Wednesday, Inglis' efforts to secure a release from his contract to join Brisbane took a back seat.

Storm football manager Frank Ponissi continued to push the possibility of salary cap rorters Melbourne retaining Inglis and fellow blue chippers Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Copper Cronk as they manoeuvre to squeeze under the NRL's 2011 player budget of $4.3 million.

"There's been no movement since Monday and I don't anticipate any movement until next week, if there is any movement," Ponissi told AAP when asked for an Inglis update.

Asked why it was taking so long to take Brisbane's offer and Inglis' case for a release on compassionate grounds to the NRL, Ponissi said: "It will happen.

"We've been in dialogue, that's all I'm prepared to say at this stage," he said.

"We've had a new CEO come on board today which is a big thing for the club.

"That's taken up most of our time and maybe next week you'll see some developments but at this stage we're not even close."

Inglis' manager Allan Gainey, who spoke to Ponissi on Wednesday, said he was now playing the waiting game.

"It's up to Melbourne to sort it out with the NRL which doesn't involve me," Gainey said.

He confirmed Gold Coast CEO Michael Searle had told him the Titans could match Brisbane's offer with the help of a third-party top-up from the FOGS (Former Origin Greats).

"Greg's first preference though is definitely for the Broncos subject to his release and his contract being terminated in the right manner," Gainey said.

"If that happened to fall over, which I don't think it would, then the Titans could be a back-up. Although I've told Michael Searle Brisbane is his preference."

While Brisbane continued to play a patient hand with Inglis, they haven't neglected their own backyard, extending the contract of highly rated teenager Corey Norman re-signing until 2012.

Norman is seen as the player to eventually step into skipper Darren Lockyer's No.6 jumper once he decides it's time to call it quits.

"I honestly don't know how long Darren is going to be around for but Corey is definitely one player we've got in mind for that position," Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak said.

"He's still got a lot to learn - but who better to learn off but one of the best."

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

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