South Sydney may have already paraded Greg Inglis in their colours but NRL boss David Gallop has pointed out the star centre remains contracted to the Melobunrwe Storm.
The Queensland and Kangaroos back recently opted to walk away from a proposed deal with Brisbane to join the Rabbitohs instead. Inglis, who is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury, made a brief first appearance at Rabbitohs pre-season training at Redfern Oval earlier this week.
Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe even trumpeted the Inglis signing on American television earlier this week, but Gallop on made it clear that Inglis isn’t yet officially in the Rabbitohs’ burrow.
“A short-form contract has been lodged. Let’s be very clear about Greg Inglis’s situation at the moment, Greg Inglis is a player that’s contracted to the Melbourne Storm,” Gallop told reporters.
“He needs a release from the Melbourne Storm with the salary cap auditor’s approval before he can play anywhere else.”
While it was reported Inglis had been offered a three-year $1.8 million deal, Gallop said he wasn’t going to disclose the numbers on the contract lodged with the NRL.
“(Salary cap auditor) Ian Schubert will be looking at it fully including any third-party deals when that is all lodged with us, we’re not quite at that point yet,” Gallop said.
“When high-profile players move clubs, Ian tends to have a pretty hard look at it and this will be in this category.”
