AFL boss Andrew Demetriou has ruled out making a bid for NRL star Greg Inglis despite growing uncertainty over the Australian centre's immediate future.
The 23-year-old, who is still contracted to the Melbourne Storm, has agreed to a new three-year deal with South Sydney.
Inglis' future in the 13-man code is anything but settled, however, with the NRL yet to sign off on the Rabbitohs' deal amid salary cap concerns.
The AFL have already landed two major blows having poached rugby league stars Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau, but Demetriou insists Inglis, who has previously been linked with Essendon, is not next on the code's hit list.
"He's a terrific athlete Greg Inglis and he's a wonderful rugby league player, but certainly we haven't had any discussions about Greg Inglis," Demetriou said in Sydney on Thursday.
"And I hope that he finds a home in rugby league soon because he'd be a great loss to the game."
"He's just such a fantastic player, but we're happy with Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau."
"We haven't even discussed it and I dare say any rugby league team and probably overseas union would be having a good look at Greg, but I hope he plays rugby league because he's just a fantastic player."
Despite the uncertainty over the Inglis deal, the Rabbitohs remain convinced the Queensland and Kangaroos star is heading to Redfern next season.
"The situation has not changed since the Rabbitohs announced that Inglis had agreed to terms with the Club on 12 November," the Bunnies said in a statement on Thursday.
"The Rabbitohs are following the normal procedures of signing a player to an NRL contract and lodging that contract with the NRL for registration."
"A short form contract was lodged with the NRL on Monday 15 November. Within 20 business days of this contract being lodged, the Rabbitohs are required by the Rules to lodge a full NRL playing contract. The Club will be lodging this contract within the next 24 hours."
"Following the lodgement of the full NRL playing contract, NRL Salary Cup Auditor Ian Schubert will review the contract in accordance with Rules."
"In the meantime, the Club continues to work constructively with the Melbourne Storm towards gaining a release for Inglis from his existing contract."
"The Rabbitohs hope to have a favourable resolution to this situation within the next seven days."