Rabbitohs take swipe at cap critics

SOUTH Sydney have hit out at the NRL clubs criticising the $1 million salary cap relief the Rabbitohs received for retired star Greg Inglis.

“We know who is driving the misinformation,” said South Sydney club chief executive Blake Solly, who has challenged the NRL to inspect the salary cap activity of all other clubs in the competition.

The drama unfolded a day after Inglis ended a self-imposed retirement to sign a oneyear deal to play with English Super League club Warrington in 2021. Solly said clubs were misinformed, confused and “don’t understand” the salary club exemption his club received when Inglis retired.

The Rabbitohs were incensed over a confidential email NRL chief operating officer Nick Weeks sent to club CEOS at the time, which explained the cap exemption.

“We would be happy for the NRL to provide the same level of transparency and clarity about the salary cap practises of some other clubs,” Solly said. “I’m surprised, given the transparency in the process and the clarity provided to all clubs 12 months ago, that there are still some clubs confused.”

Inglis was paid around $800,000 for last season, which was included in South Sydney’s salary cap. He was still fit to play but friends said he retired in April last year because he had “lost the desire to play”.

Inglis did not receive any of his $1 million contract money for this year, so Souths didn’t have to fit that amount under the cap in 2020.

Dean Ritchie