Inglis captaincy to stop cashed-up clubs

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The Rabbitohs captaincy could end up being the carrot that keeps Greg Inglis in rugby league for the long haul.

Hot on the heels of yesterday's stunning announcement that Inglis would take over from premiership-winning skipper John Sutton this year, it has emerged that cashed-up rugby clubs in France and the United Kingdom are already sounding out the NRL's biggest superstar.

This is despite the fact Inglis doesn't come off contract until the end of 2017.

INGLIS TAKES OVER SOUTHS CAPTAINCY

Greg Inglis during South Sydney Rabbitohs training. Source: News Corp Australia

After losing Sam Burgess, Jarryd Hayne and Sonny Bill Williams at the end of last year, the last thing the NRL can afford now is for Inglis to even entertain the prospect of testing his value in a rival code.

But while Inglis is contracted at Souths for three more seasons, Burgess and Hayne's decisions to leave with time to run on their NRL deals is more proof anything is possible and the word filtering down from the Northern Hemisphere is that it's no secret Inglis has the talent to match Israel Folau who has been a phenomenon in rugby.

The fact is Inglis could stand to earn double what he is on now if he decides to go.

Asked if the rugby speculation was indeed fact, Inglis' manager Allan Gainey admitted to The Daily Telegraph last night: "There has been consistent contact from agents acting for clubs over there.

Greg Inglis makes a break. Source: News Corp Australia

"We have said nothing at this stage. We are not prepared to entertain anything just yet until Greg says 'let's have a look at it'.

"But he hasn't said that at this stage.

"He has never said no (about the possibility of switching codes).

"I think he has been quoted a couple of times publicly where he said you just don't know. He is not going to say he is never going to do that.

"His heart is definitely in rugby league and it always has been.

"But in saying that when you get to that stage in your career ... who knows."

Inglis is 28 and while he made his NRL debut way back in 2005 he said going into last year's Four Nations final that he will play on as long as his body holds up.

"He reckons he can play until he is 35," Gainey said.

Greg Inglis announced as the new South Sydney captain. Source: News Corp Australia

While NRL boss Dave Smith last year introduced a war-chest designed to keep the biggest names in rugby league, the fact is we lost three of the best in Burgess, Hayne and Williams — and that's not forgetting Folau also started his career in the NRL along with Karmichael Hunt.

So far Smith is yet to dip his fingers into his secret pot of gold but if Inglis starts getting itchy feet Smith will have no choice but to act.

The tax rate in France is said to be a huge attraction and the extra money players can earn from sporting endorsements also dwarfs what they get in the NRL.

Greg Inglis salutes the crowd. Source: News Corp Australia

Gainey was adamant Inglis' focus right now was solely on Souths.

But it is also a manager's job to always be on the lookout.

As Gainey said: "I wouldn't be one to say if something came up he wouldn't consider it.

"It would only be a matter of him saying to me; 'Allan, push the button and see what's there'. And I would be inundated.

"I reckon there would be half a dozen top clubs in the UK and France that would throw their arms at him."

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