Inglis deal on the backburner

Superstar Greg Inglis' NRL future is on the backburner while Melbourne settle new
chief executive Ron Gauci into one of the toughest jobs in Australian sport.
While the former managing director and Australasian vice-president for IT company
Verizon Business was announced to replace disgraced Storm boss Brian Waldron on
Wednesday, Inglis' efforts to secure a release from his contract to join Brisbane
took a back seat.
Storm football manager Frank Ponissi continued to push the possibility of salary cap
rorters Melbourne retaining Inglis and fellow blue chippers Billy Slater, Cameron
Smith and Copper Cronk as they manoeuvre to squeeze under the NRL's 2011 player
budget of $4.3 million.
"There's been no movement since Monday and I don't anticipate any movement until
next week, if there is any movement," Ponissi told AAP when asked for an Inglis
update.
Asked why it was taking so long to take Brisbane's offer and Inglis' case for a
release on compassionate grounds to the NRL, Ponissi said: "It will happen.
"We've been in dialogue, that's all I'm prepared to say at this stage," he said.
"We've had a new CEO come on board today which is a big thing for the club.
"That's taken up most of our time and maybe next week you'll see some developments
but at this stage we're not even close."
Inglis' manager Allan Gainey, who spoke to Ponissi on Wednesday, said he was now
playing the waiting game.
"It's up to Melbourne to sort it out with the NRL which doesn't involve me," Gainey
said.
He confirmed Gold Coast CEO Michael Searle had told him the Titans could match
Brisbane's offer with the help of a third-party top-up from the FOGS (Former Origin
Greats).
"Greg's first preference though is definitely for the Broncos subject to his release
and his contract being terminated in the right manner," Gainey said.
"If that happened to fall over, which I don't think it would, then the Titans could
be a back-up. Although I've told Michael Searle Brisbane is his preference."
While Brisbane continued to play a patient hand with Inglis, they haven't neglected
their own backyard, extending the contract of highly rated teenager Corey Norman
re-signing until 2012.
Norman is seen as the player to eventually step into skipper Darren Lockyer's No.6
jumper once he decides it's time to call it quits.
"I honestly don't know how long Darren is going to be around for but Corey is
definitely one player we've got in mind for that position," Brisbane coach Ivan
Henjak said.
"He's still got a lot to learn - but who better to learn off but one of the best."



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