NRL: Inglis' Rabbitohs deal blocked

Greg Inglis' future in the NRL remains up in the air after the NRL blocked his proposed move to South Sydney today.

The NRL advised the Rabbitohs that it must include the full value of a number of third party agreements relating to the Queensland Origin star's A$400,000 ($513,640) a year deal.

Inglis, who reneged on a deal to sign with the Brisbane Broncos when third party deals failed to materialise, will now continue to in rugby league limbo as he is without a club for 2011.

In a statement released today, the NRL explained that the rules are in place to "ensure that any third party agreement is not in truth a vehicle to remunerate the player for playing rugby league at his club".

"Given the circumstances under which Greg became available to South Sydney, nobody can have been under any doubt about the importance of ensuring his contract complied with the cap," NRL chief executive David Gallop said.

"The NRL had already required the Broncos to include third party agreements within their calculation of the contract value and was insisting legal fees also be included when those negotiations ceased.

"South Sydney had been advised to have all proposed offers reviewed by the NRL before making any commitments.

"They chose not to do so and it has taken some time to access all details of the agreements.

"It is unfortunate for Greg that he is in the middle of a difficult situation and I assured him this week that these issues do not reflect on him but that they are matters for clubs in assessing the offers that they make.

"He is one of the games most highly valued players and we have assured him of that in no uncertain terms.

"That said the cap has to apply fairly to all clubs and one club cannot be allowed to do what others were prevented from doing.

"The rules on third party deals are clear. We have worked with clubs and players by substantially increasing the amount that sponsors can pay players through the $300,000 marquee player allowance in 2011 but without rules on third party agreements there would be no point in having a salary cap system."

South Sydney admitted they were "disappointed" and disagree with the decision, and will assess the situation this week with NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert.

- AAP