Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen believes the Broncos are losing the battle to sign Melbourne superstar Greg Inglis, with a decision on his likely retention by the Storm expected on Monday.
After weeks of to-ing and fro-ing as the Storm continue to work on getting under the $4.2 million salary cap for the 2012 NRL season, Cullen suggested that Melbourne were leaning towards holding onto the 23-year-old rather than subsidise his salary at another club.
Under the rules being enforced by the NRL in the wake of the salary cap scandal that engulfed the Storm, all contracts had to be honoured by Melbourne.
That meant that if Inglis had signed with the Broncos for $400,000, the Storm would have to count the extra $200,000 he was owed next season on their books next season, something new chief executive Ron Gauci is keen to avoid.
"It's now looking likely, I won't say highly likely, but's it's looking likely that he might stay in Melbourne," Cullen told ABC Radio on Sunday.
"We haven't been involved in this for a long time now because the last couple of weeks have been taken up with Melbourne's new CEO taking his place in the organisation ... it's come to the fore just this weekend.
"Even if Greg goes and comes to the Broncos or even the Titans, there's a matter of him still being on the cap for an amount of money and it's looking like Melbourne are saying to themselves 'if he's going to go and he's still got to be on the cap, we're better off keeping him.'
"I haven't spoken to Greg himself, but I do know that's become a very strong option for Melbourne, that if they've got to carry for him for any substantial amount on the cap and lose him, they're better off keeping him on the cap and maybe losing ONE OR TWO OTHERS."
Whether Inglis is content to stay in the Victorian capital is another question, with his initial interest in heading to the Broncos sparked after his fiance secured a job in Brisbane.
Either way, Cullen says he expects a decision on Monday.
"We'll do our best to tie it all up by tomorrow because it's been very frustrating for all parties including other players at the club that don't know what their future is," Cullen said.
I KNOW EVERYONES SICK OF HEARING IT, BUT MAYBE CRONKS STILL ON THE CARDS
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