The long-running Greg Inglis saga is over with the superstar rugby league Test centre heading to Brisbane next season.
Inglis is believed to have agreed to a two-year deal until 2012 when he'll re-assess his future with an independent commission running the NRL and bigger salary cap operating once a new TV rights deal locked in.
It's believed Brisbane closed the Inglis deal on Monday after tapping into its $300,000 marquee player allowance to bump up its offer by an additional $45,000.
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A press conference has been called for 3pm (AEST) in Brisbane today.
Brett White has also been released by the Storm and will link up with Canberra next season.
Storm chief executive Ron Gauci said the club now expected to be salary cap-compliant in 2011 after releasing Inglis and fellow representative star White (Canberra).
"We have undergone a thorough and transparent process that was always designed to ensure that we meet our salary cap obligations for 2011," Gauci said.
"This process has considered all matters, including our commercial position, the players' needs and preferences, as well as our on-field team balance.
"As a result of that thorough and transparent process we anticipate that we will receive NRL sign-off once the club's final salary cap audit is completed."
Gauci said there would be no further premature player departure announcements this season, indicating they would retain Smith, Slater and Cronk.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy paid tribute to the departing players. "The legacy that all of our players who are leaving this club have made on the Melbourne Storm won't be lost on those still remaining any time soon," said Bellamy.
"We're sad to see them go and they're sad to be going."
