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Greg Inglis to Essendon
James Phelps
From:Herald Sun
June 05, 2010
EXCLUSIVE: ARGUABLY rugby league's best player yesterday moved a step closer to becoming the latest star to abandon the NRL with Melbourne Storm ace Greg Inglis' manager meeting with AFL powerhouse Essendon.
In another blow for rugby league just days after the code was rocked by Israel Folau's defection to the AFL, Inglis is seriously considering joining the NRL exodus with Essendon making their interest in the Test centre formal.
While Essendon is playing the Swans at the SCG tomorrow, Bombers boss Ian Robson yesterday flew into Sydney a day earlier than his team for a meeting with Inglis' agent Al Gainey at a Sydney cafe.
It is understood Inglis has asked Gainey to explore the option of playing AFL in Melbourne with the 104kg centre unsure of his future with the Storm in the wake of the club's salary cap cheating.
"Inglis has a passion for Melbourne and that is where he wants to stay," said a source close to Inglis.
"He recently moved all his family down to Melbourne and he wants to stay their. He doesn't want to move anywhere else and if the Storm needs to release him from his contract then he would explore other opportunities and certainly Essendon is one of them."
Inglis is contracted with the Storm until the end of 2012 but could become a free agent with the club looking to slash $900,000 from its salary cap next year.
The Storm is understood to be over the cap by $1.2 million and will be forced to shed a star of Inglis' standing.
Robson early in the year denied his club had approached Inglis but said he would make a good AFL player.
"I've got no hesitation in saying he'd be one of several players - Billy Slater would be another - who could make the transition to AFL," Robson said.
Inglis' defection to the AFL would be even more damaging than Karmichael Hunt and Folau's controversial departures with Essendon's bid for Inglis not considered to be a publicity stunt.
Essendon's interest in Inglis stems back to when Kevin Sheedy was still at the club.
Sheedy declared Inglis should be AFL's No. 1 cross-code target.
Earlier in the week Essendon player Mark McVeigh said Inglis was a far more promising AFL prospect than Folau or Hunt.
"I think if you look at Folau and Inglis you probably think Greg is more suited in terms of the way he moves and his skills," McVeigh said.
GOLD Coast coach Guy McKenna yesterday confirmed Hunt would make his VFL debut next Saturday against Coburg at Craigieburn.
The former Brisbane Bronco trained with his new teammates at Wesley College yesterday.
"His body is in good nick and he's looking good," McKenna said. "He's a lot more natural than I think a lot of people (think). They've had to sit back and go 'Hang on, this bloke's a chance of making it'.
"He's doing what he has to do ... he looks as natural as half of our side.
"We're looking forward to next week ... to him getting out and tearing the boys apart."
From:Herald Sun
June 05, 2010
EXCLUSIVE: ARGUABLY rugby league's best player yesterday moved a step closer to becoming the latest star to abandon the NRL with Melbourne Storm ace Greg Inglis' manager meeting with AFL powerhouse Essendon.
In another blow for rugby league just days after the code was rocked by Israel Folau's defection to the AFL, Inglis is seriously considering joining the NRL exodus with Essendon making their interest in the Test centre formal.
While Essendon is playing the Swans at the SCG tomorrow, Bombers boss Ian Robson yesterday flew into Sydney a day earlier than his team for a meeting with Inglis' agent Al Gainey at a Sydney cafe.
It is understood Inglis has asked Gainey to explore the option of playing AFL in Melbourne with the 104kg centre unsure of his future with the Storm in the wake of the club's salary cap cheating.
"Inglis has a passion for Melbourne and that is where he wants to stay," said a source close to Inglis.
"He recently moved all his family down to Melbourne and he wants to stay their. He doesn't want to move anywhere else and if the Storm needs to release him from his contract then he would explore other opportunities and certainly Essendon is one of them."
Inglis is contracted with the Storm until the end of 2012 but could become a free agent with the club looking to slash $900,000 from its salary cap next year.
The Storm is understood to be over the cap by $1.2 million and will be forced to shed a star of Inglis' standing.
Robson early in the year denied his club had approached Inglis but said he would make a good AFL player.
"I've got no hesitation in saying he'd be one of several players - Billy Slater would be another - who could make the transition to AFL," Robson said.
Inglis' defection to the AFL would be even more damaging than Karmichael Hunt and Folau's controversial departures with Essendon's bid for Inglis not considered to be a publicity stunt.
Essendon's interest in Inglis stems back to when Kevin Sheedy was still at the club.
Sheedy declared Inglis should be AFL's No. 1 cross-code target.
Earlier in the week Essendon player Mark McVeigh said Inglis was a far more promising AFL prospect than Folau or Hunt.
"I think if you look at Folau and Inglis you probably think Greg is more suited in terms of the way he moves and his skills," McVeigh said.
GOLD Coast coach Guy McKenna yesterday confirmed Hunt would make his VFL debut next Saturday against Coburg at Craigieburn.
The former Brisbane Bronco trained with his new teammates at Wesley College yesterday.
"His body is in good nick and he's looking good," McKenna said. "He's a lot more natural than I think a lot of people (think). They've had to sit back and go 'Hang on, this bloke's a chance of making it'.
"He's doing what he has to do ... he looks as natural as half of our side.
"We're looking forward to next week ... to him getting out and tearing the boys apart."
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