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http://www.thechookpen.com.au/forum/...6823#post66823
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1225893394174
Brisbane Broncos set to sign NRL superstar Greg Inglis as Israel Folau departs
* Peter Badel, David Riccio
* From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
* July 18, 2010 12:00AM
Greg Inglis
PAYOFF: Greg Inglis is close to signing a lucrative deal with Brisbane. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: Herald Sun
THE Broncos' powerful sponsorship stable is set to deliver Greg Inglis to Brisbane on a massive $650,000-a-season deal, making the Storm sensation one of the richest men in rugby league.
The Inglis contract saga took a spectacular twist on Saturday after revelations the Test centre's manager Allan Gainey had re-opened talks with the Broncos, who are tantalisingly close to securing the most devastating strike weapon in the code.
Inglis is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Broncos in the next 48 hours - shattering the Storm's hopes of keeping the Fab Four of Inglis, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk for next season.
And in another surprise development, it has emerged that Inglis stands to earn more at the Broncos than his mega deal in Melbourne by tapping into third-party deals via Brisbane's vast corporate network.
The Maroons flyer's base deal at Melbourne is understood to be worth $400,000-a-season, with a further $175,000 outside the salary cap taking his annual salary to $575,000.
But the NRL's beefed-up salary cap concessions for 2011, coupled with Brisbane's corporate clout, could see Inglis join Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston as one of the richest men in the NRL.
After originally knocking back an offer from Brisbane last Monday, the Broncos' pursuit of Inglis regained momentum three days ago when a forensic audit by Deloitte revealed the Storm had exceeded the salary cap by $3.17 million over the past five seasons.
But Inglis' impending departure will help bring immediate relief to the Storm, who must jettison $1.3 million worth of talent to get under the salary cap for next season.
Broncos boss Bruno Cullen said Brisbane recruitment chief Andrew Gee would continue talks with Gainey on Monday.
The acquisition of Inglis would be a massive coup for the Broncos, who were rocked last month by the departure of star centre Israel Folau to AFL's newcomers Greater Western Sydney.
"The Inglis camp has made contact with Andrew Gee to re-open negotiations," Cullen said on Saturday night.
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"I won't hide anything - the talks have to be positive and I'm excited that they have come back.
"Greg is an exceptional player and if this opens up the opportunity for us to sign him it would be great. There are new rules coming in next year in regards to third-party agreements and that will help us."
The Broncos will not budge on their initial offer, believed to be $400,000 a season plus a car.
But if the centre agrees to terms, his manager Gainey will be able to top up the Inglis brand by selling to an array of Brisbane companies.
Gainey told The Sunday Mail he had yet to strike a deal with Brisbane but was hopeful of a deal this week.
"Something could happen next week," he said.
"The door still could be open. There has been some talk of Greg going to the Broncos but nothing has been concluded.
"I've told GI and Frank Ponissi (Storm football manager) that we all need to sit down together on Monday.
"Something has to happen sooner rather than later."
Ponissi on Saturday maintained the Storm were desperate to hold on to Inglis, but it was unlikely.
"We don't want to lose any of our players, but we are realistic enough to know we will lose some players," Ponissi said.
"Who we will lose, we don't know."
As revealed in The Sunday Mail last week, Inglis is torn between joining fiancee Sally Robinson in Brisbane and staying with the Storm.
http://www.thechookpen.com.au/forum/...6823#post66823
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1225893394174
Brisbane Broncos set to sign NRL superstar Greg Inglis as Israel Folau departs
* Peter Badel, David Riccio
* From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
* July 18, 2010 12:00AM
Greg Inglis
PAYOFF: Greg Inglis is close to signing a lucrative deal with Brisbane. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: Herald Sun
THE Broncos' powerful sponsorship stable is set to deliver Greg Inglis to Brisbane on a massive $650,000-a-season deal, making the Storm sensation one of the richest men in rugby league.
The Inglis contract saga took a spectacular twist on Saturday after revelations the Test centre's manager Allan Gainey had re-opened talks with the Broncos, who are tantalisingly close to securing the most devastating strike weapon in the code.
Inglis is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Broncos in the next 48 hours - shattering the Storm's hopes of keeping the Fab Four of Inglis, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk for next season.
And in another surprise development, it has emerged that Inglis stands to earn more at the Broncos than his mega deal in Melbourne by tapping into third-party deals via Brisbane's vast corporate network.
The Maroons flyer's base deal at Melbourne is understood to be worth $400,000-a-season, with a further $175,000 outside the salary cap taking his annual salary to $575,000.
But the NRL's beefed-up salary cap concessions for 2011, coupled with Brisbane's corporate clout, could see Inglis join Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston as one of the richest men in the NRL.
After originally knocking back an offer from Brisbane last Monday, the Broncos' pursuit of Inglis regained momentum three days ago when a forensic audit by Deloitte revealed the Storm had exceeded the salary cap by $3.17 million over the past five seasons.
But Inglis' impending departure will help bring immediate relief to the Storm, who must jettison $1.3 million worth of talent to get under the salary cap for next season.
Broncos boss Bruno Cullen said Brisbane recruitment chief Andrew Gee would continue talks with Gainey on Monday.
The acquisition of Inglis would be a massive coup for the Broncos, who were rocked last month by the departure of star centre Israel Folau to AFL's newcomers Greater Western Sydney.
"The Inglis camp has made contact with Andrew Gee to re-open negotiations," Cullen said on Saturday night.
Want more NRL coverage?
Get your Sunday Mail print edition
"I won't hide anything - the talks have to be positive and I'm excited that they have come back.
"Greg is an exceptional player and if this opens up the opportunity for us to sign him it would be great. There are new rules coming in next year in regards to third-party agreements and that will help us."
The Broncos will not budge on their initial offer, believed to be $400,000 a season plus a car.
But if the centre agrees to terms, his manager Gainey will be able to top up the Inglis brand by selling to an array of Brisbane companies.
Gainey told The Sunday Mail he had yet to strike a deal with Brisbane but was hopeful of a deal this week.
"Something could happen next week," he said.
"The door still could be open. There has been some talk of Greg going to the Broncos but nothing has been concluded.
"I've told GI and Frank Ponissi (Storm football manager) that we all need to sit down together on Monday.
"Something has to happen sooner rather than later."
Ponissi on Saturday maintained the Storm were desperate to hold on to Inglis, but it was unlikely.
"We don't want to lose any of our players, but we are realistic enough to know we will lose some players," Ponissi said.
"Who we will lose, we don't know."
As revealed in The Sunday Mail last week, Inglis is torn between joining fiancee Sally Robinson in Brisbane and staying with the Storm.
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