State of Origin Player Profiles: Greg Inglis

Nick Fray, Origin Online and Over the Line Sports

Origin Online continues its series of player profiles as we count down to Game Two, looking here at the remarkable Greg Inglis.

Greg Inglis, Queensland

Centre, South Sydney Rabbitohs

Origin Games: 22

Origin Tries: 15

Origin Status: Legend

If Wally Lewis is ‘The King’, Greg Inglis would probably be the heir to the throne with an impact on the Origin arena that extends far beyond his record tally of 15 tries. Inglis’s greatness in Origin football can be demonstrated with any number of statistics, not to mention an extensive highlight reel, but the one stat that stands above all else is the win-loss tally; since his debut in 2006, it stands at Queensland 8, New South Wales o, with Inglis at the heart of each of those series victories.

In 2006, as a 19-year old he debutant he almost single-handedly dragged Queensland to victory in a game that looked all but over when the Blues skipped out to a 14-0 lead. The Maroons ultimately lost the game, but it can certainly be argued that the Inglis-inspired comeback gave them the confidence and belief they needed to go on to win the series. As the years have rolled on, Inglis has only gotten better and better and in addition to the 15 tries he’s scored, many will contend he is also directly responsible for the bulk of Darius Boyd’s 14-try haul.

Of course, if you’re a New South Welshman, chances are you’re reading this with a deep sense of injustice. For all he’s accomplished, Inglis’s Origin legacy will always be tainted somewhat by the dubious decision to allow him to play for Queensland in the first place, with revelations he played his first senior football at Hunter Sports High in New South Wales making him technically ineligible for Queensland. This has opened up a Pandora’s Box regarding selection criteria, and his influence on the Origin arena is such that many Blues fans refuse to acknowledge Queensland’s winning streak in the belief that they have fielded an ineligible player.

Ultimately, however, what’s done is done and if Inglis considers himself a Queenslander then he’ll have no trouble at finding about 5 million banana-benders who’ll have his back. At 27, Inglis’s Origin career is far from over and by the time he’s done there’s a genuine chance people will be debating whether he’s earned the right to be mentioned in the same breath as Wally. If Inglis can inspire his side to a backs-against-the-wall win to extend their winning run to nine, he might just about be there already.