Bunnies re-focus after Lote's ARU deal

South Sydney co-owner Peter Holmes a Court says the Rabbitohs won't necessarily target another marquee player despite their unsuccessful big money bid to lure Lote Tuqiri back to the NRL.

Tuqiri has re-signed with the ARU and NSW Waratahs for the next five seasons, the dual international now set to see out the remainder of his career in the 15-man game.

The Rabbitohs are believed to have tabled a package that would have netted Tuqiri upwards of $1 million a season, that money now set to be spent on retention rather than recruitment.

"We've got priorities with our own players, with our own juniors," Holmes a Court said.

"We have one of the strongest junior leagues...we will focus our attention there."

But with plenty of talent still up for grabs on the open market, such as Bulldogs prop Mark O'Meley and North Queensland backrower Luke O'Donnell, the Rabbitohs are sure to remain in the hunt - particularly with managers now armed with the knowledge that Souths are more than capable of putting together an attractive offer.

Holmes a Court met with Tuqiri and his adviser Les Ross for the final time on Monday morning and said he left the meeting confident of luring the dual international back to rugby league.

"We said from day one that we wanted to be there when he made a decision and I think we presented a compelling case to come to rugby league," Holmes a Court said.

"In the end he decided to go a different way."

Quizzed as to how close the salary cap-restricted Rabbitohs offer came to matching the big bucks of rugby union - believed to be $5 million over five years - Holmes a Court said: "It's hard to say, when you're playing cards you can't see the other player's cards but I feel they took us very, very seriously at all times."

Despite the countless hours taken up wining and dining Tuqiri - which kicked off with a very public tour of the club's training facilities at Erskineville Oval three weeks ago - Holmes a Court refused to criticise the former Broncos flyer.

He even defended Tuqiri's motives in playing the rival codes off against each other, rejecting claims the Wallaby was only interested in the highest bidder.

"It was never just about money, Lote was unfortunately painted in that picture but it was never about money," Holmes a Court said.

"I don't know the terms of his deal with rugby but he deserves to be well looked after.

"They were never being greedy and we enjoyed working with him and Les Ross.

"We wish him the best of luck... he's a great person."

While the salary cap may have ultimately prevented the capture of Tuqiri, the NRL confirmed Brisbane had been cleared of any salary cap breaches.

Rumours of a possible salary cap breach sparked a betting plunge on the Broncos to win the wooden spoon, punters banking on the reigning premiers being stripped of competition points if found guilty of a breach.

"We made some enquires but there is nothing to suggest there is any need to make any further investigations based on what is there," an NRL spokesperson said.

"Obviously it's something we'll keep monitoring."