Rabbitohs Greg Inglis ready to sacrifice $1.5m in early exit

Rugby league superstar Greg Inglis is expected to call time on his illustrious NRL career — and cop a $1.5 million salary sacrifice so not to burden his club South Sydney with carrying his wage on its salary cap until the end of 2020.

• Lockyer’s message to Inglis ahead of future call
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Rugby league superstar Greg Inglis is expected to call time on his illustrious NRL career — and cop a $1.5 million salary sacrifice so not to burden his club South Sydney’s salary cap going forward.

While close friends have bunkered down and refused to give any indication on what Inglis’ final decision will be, the expectation is that the wounded 32-year-old champion has lost his desire to play on.

Inglis will front a media conference at 11.30am with coach Wayne Bennett, CEO Blake Solly and general manager of football Shane Richardson at which he will announce a decision on his future.

Greg Inglis is expected to call time on his illustrious NRL career. Picture: Tim Hunter

Inglis ahead of the 2018 NRL semi finals. Picture: Brett Costello

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Inglis will meet this morning with Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett along with general manager of football Shane Richardson and chief executive Blake Solly.

Bennett would not comment when contacted on Sunday, while Inglis’ best mate and former Maroons teammate Justin Hodges also declined to talk out of respect.

Inglis training with Melbourne Storm in 2005.

Other friends have been encouraging Inglis during the last week to give himself more time before he makes his decision final.

But there is a feeling Inglis has already come to the realisation that he can no longer put his battered body through the constant punishment it takes to play at the elite level, especially given the chronic shoulder injury and constant knee complications that have plagued him for many years.

Inglis was at Sunshine Coast Stadium to watch his Rabbitohs teammates take on the Warriors on Saturday. Picture: AAP

The Daily Telegraph was told on Sunday that Inglis was ready to turn his back on the remainder of the contract money owed to him by Souths, which would be proof his decision was not being motivated by money. Instead Inglis is contemplating taking on a part-time ambassador-type role at the Rabbitohs.

It is understood there have been top-level discussions in recent weeks to ensure Inglis is not lost to the game if he does retire, and his transition into the next phase of his life is being approached with compassion given his massive service to the sport.

Inglis brushes aside Braith Anasta during a Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury Bulldogs match.

During the Tri-Nations in 2006 playing against New Zealand at Telstra Dome.

One of the most decorated players of the 21st century, Inglis hasn’t played since he was injured in round two against St George Illawarra.

Damaging at both centre and fullback in club and representative football, Inglis made his name as Melbourne began their dominant era in 2006 and remained part of the Storm’s success until forced to leave amidst the salary cap scandal.

He landed at Redfern desperate to end the Rabbitohs’ title drought, doing so in the 2014 grand final as he scored the final try and sent the burrow into delirium.

His current try-scoring tally stands at 149 in 263 games, his most recent coming as part of a double against Melbourne in last year’s finals series. He was just as dominant at representative level, forming arguably the greatest centre-wing combination in State of Origin history with Darius Boyd on Queensland’s left edge.

There he scored the majority of his 18 Origin tries, while also crossing the line 31 times in 39 Kangaroos appearances.

Greg Inglis is ready to cop a $1.5 million salary sacrifice so not to burden his club South Sydney’s salary cap going forward. Picture: Brett Costello

The NRL would look favourably on any role the Rabbitohs offered Inglis, as long as it remains within salary cap guidelines. For that to happen Inglis would be on a massively reduced wage, in line with what other former players earn in similar roles.

The way NRL player contracts work, Inglis is entitled to all of his money for the remainder of 2019 and 2020 under the recent collective bargaining agreement.

But if he is paid that money it has to go on Souths’ salary cap, and that is a burden Inglis is said to be struggling with given he doesn’t want to leave his teammates or his club in the lurch.

Inglis is on a reported $1 million-a-season at Souths but has been paid six months of his 2019 contract so far.

The way NRL player contracts work, Inglis is entitled to all of his money for the remainder of 2019 and 2020 under the recent collective bargaining agreement. Picture: Phil Hillyard

As well as taking on a role at Souths, the NRL would be keen to make sure he stays a part of the game, and his standing within the indigenous community would obviously be taken into account.

Bennett has maintained that the club was not trying to push Inglis into retirement but said it was ultimately up to Inglis to decide his future.

Inglis joined the camp for the Maroons in the State of Origin. Picture: Adam Head

There has been great concern for Inglis for some time given his mental health struggles and also because of the toll rugby league had taken on his body.

Inglis is one of the most respected of his generation and everyone in the game wants him to be remembered as a champion, not see his legacy potentially ruined by the struggles of recent months.

GREG INGLIS: HARD-HITTING HISTORY

2005: An 18-year-old Inglis makes his debut for the Melbourne Storm. He goes on to be named Dally M Rookie Of The Year.

2006: Inglis is controversially handed his first State of Origin jersey for Queensland.

2007: Wins Clive Churchill medal in a two-try grand final performance to help the Storm thump Manly 34-8.

2008: Named Dally M Five-Eighth of The Year and Rep Player of the Year.

2009: Wins the Dally M Representative Player of the Year as well. Plays a part in another Storm premiership.

2010: Is released from the Storm in the wake of Melbourne’s massive five-year salary cap breach which led to the club being stripped of its 2007 and 2009 premierships. Set to sign with the Broncos, the star joins South Sydney instead.

2012: Inglis becomes State of Origin’s highest try scorer with 13 tries.

2013: Takes out Dally M Fullback of the Year and the Provan-Summons Medal.

2014: In a powerhouse season, Inglis helps South Sydney snare the club’s first premiership in 43 years.

2016: Appointed Indigenous All Stars captain and signs a deal to stay with the Rabbitohs through until 2020.

2017: Suffers an ACL injury in round one which rules out his entire season. Later reveals his struggles with mental health and battles with depression.

2018: Returns to steer the Rabbitohs to third on the ladder and is named Queensland captain. On the day that he is named Australian captain he is caught drink driving and speeding on his way back from the Koori Knockout football tournament. He loses the Kangaroos captaincy.

2019: Announces his plans to retire from rep footy in 2019 and from the NRL at the end of the 2020 season.