If Greg Inglis wants to explore his rugby option, the ARU is interested
If Greg Inglis wants to explore his rugby option, the ARU is interested
MELBOURNE Storm centre Greg Inglis almost certainly would be welcomed by the Australian Rugby Union if the circumstances are right.
But much depends on whether he expressed an interest in switching to the 15-a-side code next season before the World Cup in New Zealand next year.
The ARU yesterday refused to comment on the possibility of an Inglis code switch, but while there is no intent on its part to capitalise on the Storm's salary cap crisis, it is understood the ARU would be interested if he was keen to explore the rugby option.
Inglis last week approached Storm coach Craig Bellamy to discuss the possibility of a release at the end of the season to head back to Brisbane with fiancee Sally Robinson.
The Broncos weren't able to go higher than $400,000, which is $200,000 below what Inglis earns at the Storm, but there is every indication he could yet return to Brisbane on equivalent money to what he is earning in Melbourne by joining the Queensland Reds.
The only complication is what form Inglis's contract would take, with the ARU likely to seek a heavily incentive-based arrangement. But given that the Wallabies now are attracting "Honey, I shrank the backline" headlines, Inglis should feel confident of his ability to force his way into the Australian side for its quest to win an unprecedented third World Cup.
At 195cm and 112kg, Inglis is physically as big as Scott Higginbotham, who has just been introduced to the Wallabies to beef up the forward pack.
Australia coach Robbie Deans would surely jump at the prospect of having a player of Inglis's size, speed and talent in his midfield or filling a wing spot.
It would take some juggling, but Australian rugby almost certainly would be able to put together a $600,000 package for Inglis, one that would put him on equal terms with the likes of Matt Giteau and Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom.
The standard Super 15 contract is $110,000 but the Reds would be able to push that tally up to $150,000 through various allowances and match payments.
As their schedule stands at present, the Wallabies will play no more than 11 Tests next year, which means the maximum Inglis could earn from match payments is $137,500, although there is the possibility a post-World Cup spring tour to the northern hemisphere will be arranged. And while the ARU has not yet addressed the question of World Cup bonuses, almost certainly it will match the figure of $80,000 promised to each of the Wallabies before the 2007 tournament.
Even if a conservative view is taken that the Super 14 and Test match payments and bonuses yield Inglis only $300,000, it is far from out of the question that the ARU contract top-up and third-party deals could earn him the same again.
The ARU almost certainly would incentivise its top-up, with Inglis guaranteed a a sum on signing, with additional payments if he reached agreed targets of Test appearances.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie could not be contacted yesterday but he always takes a pragmatic "never say never" attitude to cross-code converts.
Inglis would be well aware of the success his former Storm teammate Will Chambers has enjoyed since switching to the Reds this year.
Had Chambers not badly injured his shoulder against England, he surely would now be a Wallaby in his first season of professional rugby.
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