Inglis sweating on Storm release
A "side deal" could clear the decks for Melbourne star Greg Inglis to train with Brisbane until his dispute over legal costs with Melbourne are resolved.
A $30,000 legal bill threatens to prevent Inglis from signing a two-year deal with the Broncos and joining fellow key signing and former Bulldog Ben Hannant at the club's first official pre-season training session next Monday.
The Queensland and Australian centre is embroiled in a protracted dispute over a legal bill incurred after Melbourne hired a QC for his successful defence against an assault charge last year.
While the 23 year-old game breaker is understood to have agreed to pay $83,000 of the $113,000 legal costs, the sticking point appears to be whether any payments made are included in Melbourne's amended salary cap.
Inglis needs a clearance from Melbourne before his new two year contract with Brisbane can be signed off on and registered with the NRL.
An NRL official told AAP on Monday Melbourne could request a "side deal" which would allow Inglis to train with Brisbane should the dispute fail to be resolved this week.
"Under the rules, unless there is some sort of side agreement by Melbourne to release Inglis for the purposes of training (with Brisbane), then he's still registered with Melbourne, the spokesperson said as the dispute dragged in to its 11th week.
"It's not as hard and fast as just saying no, but technically he needs a clearance from Melbourne and the NRL.
"The NRL would have to be advised about any such deal and see what the request was before agreeing to anything."
Broncos operations manager Andrew Gee - who struck the deal with Inglis in August - is hoping the situation can be resolved quickly.
"We're hoping they're both there (at training) and hopefully Greg's situation can be sorted out this week," said Gee.
While Brisbane are keen to parade Inglis on their first day back at training, the champion centre would not be able to take part in any activities following off-season shoulder surgery.
The Broncos are anxious for their medical staff to step-up Inglis's rehab and begin programs to get him back on the field following an operation to reconstruct his damaged shoulder which forced him to miss the Four Nations series.
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