South Sydney Rabbitohs star Greg Inglis puts contract talks on hold until after new NRL TV deal

GREG Inglis has put contract talks with Souths on hold to ensure he maximises his earnings potential after the code's next TV rights deal.

Greg Inglis

STATE of Origin's greatest tryscorer Greg Inglis has put contract talks with Souths on hold to ensure he maximises his earnings potential when the ARL Commission formally brokers the code's next TV rights deal.

Inglis is the talk of the code, with his two-try effort for Souths against Canberra on Friday night coming just 48 hours after he broke Dale Shearer's Origin try scoring record in Queensland's 18-10 defeat of NSW in Game One.

The 25-year-old is off contract at the end of next season, but Souths have started extension talks as part of Hollywood owner Russell Crowe's plan to make Inglis a Rabbitoh for the rest of his playing days.

The Maroons ace, however, wants clarity on the code's imminent broadcasting deal before he commits to an upgraded term at Redfern.

The ARLC is tipped to secure a TV rights contract in the vicinity of $1 billion.

Such a bonanza would give the NRL's biggest stars, including Inglis, every reason to demand a significant pay rise as the code thrashes out the 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

While insisting he is happy at the Rabbitohs, Inglis does not want to be locked into a long-term deal until the game's true financial position is known.

"All those talks (with Souths) were meant to be secretive, but I've put off talks for now," Inglis said.

"I am interested in staying at Souths, but I don't want to talk dollars until the TV rights come in. I don't want to be worrying about years and a new contract, I'll just see what is put on the table first (with the broadcasting deal).

"There's no rush. I've definitely found my feet at Souths ... in the end I have to look at the best thing for me and my wife.

"I still believe I have more improvement in me," he said.

Having clinched victory for Queensland in Origin I, Inglis is at the peak of his powers.

His double against the Raiders gave him seven tries from 10 games this season and the Kempsey flyer is on the cusp of another milestone, needing just seven more four-pointers to celebrate 100 career tries.

Inglis now has 93 tries from 145 NRL games and, on the eve of Origin I, Crowe urged the 106kg backline weapon to stay at Souths for the long haul.

"Greg Inglis is more than just a footballer," Crowe said. "For Souths fans and members he is an inspiration."

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