Inglis: have we seen the best of him?

[The 18th Man]

About twenty of us made it to the Central Coast Bears membership drive at The Entrance yesterday. After the back patting we headed for a late lunch and the guys of the group broke off from the women and the talk led as per usual to the NRL. A lot of trivial banter, predictions, outrageous claims and the like. Standard stuff. One question that split the group of us was this,

"Have we seen the best of Greg Inglis"

I cannot name an outside back over the last 20 years that has gone to Souths and enhanced his reputation, but I don't claim to know the history of the club as say the North Sydney Bears. I am happy to proven wrong here on that claim. It's not a dig at Souths, I just cannot name a player of any note that has kicked on at Souths over that period.

Granted we are talking about a new era at South, a new attitude and committment to reviving success from yesteryear, though there is a chance that we have seen the best of Greg Inglis on a week to week basis.

Yes, no or maybe - have we seen the best of Greg Inglis?

 

[The 18th Man]

Maybe

I don't make a habit of writing off champion players, Inglis is just that, so I won't be starting here with him though I am concerned. Why?

- Outside influences and bad advice from those who claim to have his best interests at heart.
- As stated, I can't name a back of any note (not that any have been in the class of Inglis) who has kicked on at Souths.
- Service from two halves whose form is up and down like a yo-yo which will directly impact on the quality ball Inglis will get.
- Injuries, more and more frequent with Inglis albeit that would be classed "niggling". A Storm fan may shed more light there.
- Can Inglis carry the burden of being the man? Inglis shared the honors with Slater, Smith and Cronk which ensured NRL teams were not able to focus soley on shutting him down. That changes in 2011. NRL teams will be geared around shutting down Inglis.

For now, off the top of my head, that's why I was sitting on the fence here. Inglis at his best is just about as good as any centre I've seen in 30+ years fo watching this game, this is why I won't say we have seen the best of him. But again, I am concerned we have on a weekly basis. He will definately have his moments and games that will make a mockery of any doubters, though I don't know if was ever consistent to start with at Melbourne which leads me to think the moments won't be as regular as they were in Melbourne.

If Inglis makes it to Souths (Ian Schubert looking at his contract if you have been living under a rock), it will be THE story of 2011 in how he fairs in the red and green.

 

[Scarves]

Inglis has and always did have the potential to become one of the special great players that history keeps in the legend files. He may still fulfill those predictions.

What I have seen in Greg Inglis over the last 18 months is instead a possible desire to mould himself into a taller version of Artie Beetson in his current physical form.

Lock the pantry dude.

 

[DC_fan]

For me he lacks motivation. I was stunned to hear the other day his weight is up to 118kgs. I know he has had injury issues. But how could he be so heavy?

We are just 15 weeks away from the start of the 2011 premiership. I wonder if he will be fit and ready.

 

[watatank]

Needs to play at fullback to see the very best of him. Similar to what we saw of Jarryd Hayne.

 

[The 18th Man]

Needs to play at fullback to see the very best of him. Similar to what we saw of Jarryd Hayne.

Agree when he first came in to the league and the first few seasons thereafter, though not at 105kg plus. Inglis in the 3 or 4 jersey is where he is most damaging today. Some of the "best" in the NRL today can't handle him and he makes them look like amatuers resulting in their selection for NSW.

 

[The 18th Man]

For me he lacks motivation. I was stunned to hear the other day his weight is up to 118kgs. I know he has had injury issues. But how could he be so heavy?

We are just 15 weeks away from the start of the 2011 premiership. I wonder if he will be fit and ready.

I am not sure we can label Inglis as "lacking motivation". Inglis' weight would be simply stacked because of a couple surgeries in the off-season and lack of activity. Not the first elite player to bulk up, not the last. I think once he is fit that weight will strip off him and he will be back to where he should be.

 

[slammingsam]

He is 23 and is one of the best athletes the game has seen. I have no doubt he still has it in him for a while yet. He has been tremendous in parts throughout his career - I think fullback would bring the best out in him. He would need to drop to atleast 106-108 though. That may be hard with the hip surgery he just had.

 

[watatank]

well if you can't allow for him losing weight we might as well say he can't improve because i'd say that based on his weight alone.

 

[The 18th Man]

well if you can't allow for him losing weight we might as well say he can't improve because i'd say that based on his weight alone.

Inglis could be a damaging wide running back rower quite easily ;-)

All jokes aside, point taken in reply to slammingsam.

I think other factors, outside his "problem" with weight and motivation need to considered when looking at the question too though.

 

[Loudstrat]

A bit harsh saying Souths have signed no one who have enhanced their reputation - considering at best they have signed players past their peak (eg Hegarty). I'd say Mellor and Best had a pretty good dig.

Inglis is past his best, because I reckon he'll be in a Union shirt by his 26th birthday. Jack Gibson had a habit of sending players home to train in the off season, and whoever came back fit had the right attitude. I reckon Big Jack wouldn't have Inglis at his club. Inglis is lazy on the field unless the spotlight is on him. And he relies on inside men to do the hard work to make him look good. Inglis is not a freak, hes a selfish git who put less sweat in a Storm jumper in his time than the likes of Slater, King, Hill and Bell did each season.

 

[kia ora storm]

I actually think he could have been better than what he has achieved...I have watched him closely at Storm and there are games where he seems to drift too much IMO and does not get involved.

He can also be lazy in defence and make his winger do all the work which is not ideal.

His weight has ballooned but he should bring this down once he gets back into full training. He did this last year as well and trimmed back.

Either way, he will stilll use Soward for a toothpick..

 

[boxhead]

On the weight note, if Inglis drops to 105kg he will be only a few kilograms heavier than Jarryd Hayne is. Hayne is easily the biggest fullback in the game and look at what he can do. If Inglis trims down he would go well without a doubt, but he needs to work really hard before I would put him there.

 

[Smartman]

Owen Craigie number 2 but with more talent.

 

[The 18th Man]

A bit harsh saying Souths have signed no one who have enhanced their reputation - considering at best they have signed players past their peak (eg Hegarty). I'd say Mellor and Best had a pretty good dig.

Perhaps. I stand by it though. I am not sure the problem of signing players past their best comes in to it when proving the claim wrong. That's a problem for the club and a problem that seems to be on the way out given some of the signings in recent seasons.

I'd say Smartman's post (above) is a little more "harsh" wouldn't you say? :lol:

On the weight note, if Inglis drops to 105kg he will be only a few kilograms heavier than Jarryd Hayne is. Hayne is easily the biggest fullback in the game and look at what he can do. If Inglis trims down he would go well without a doubt, but he needs to work really hard before I would put him there.

Excellent, excellent point. Got me there. I believe Inglis' position would have been fullback (may still be given you are 100% right here) given he would be a scary prospect with more room to move. In limited time there he just looked at home for Melbourne and as a young lad in the QLD Cup, I am sure that's where he was making men look like boys on a weekly basis.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

This is a guy with all the natural gifts needed to be a rugby league player - size, skills, speed, strength and instinct. He seems to me, in the years I've watched him, to lack confidence, not in his football ability, but in himself and his place in the team environment. I reckon with the right motivation he could put his moments and games of brilliance together more consistently and so the best is yet to come. IMO the biggest problem with souths and the reason they missed the 8 this year is that their on field leadership is ordinary at best which is not going to help Inglis at all. If Burgess steps up as a leader then Souths and GI may step up to.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

I'll be keeping tabs on this thread in the future.

He is an absolute champion player.

His best years are still in front of him.

 

[Danish]

Will finish his career in the front row, or in another code

 

[The 18th Man]

I'll be keeping tabs on this thread in the future.

He is an absolute champion player.

His best years are still in front of him.

No one doubts that he is a champion I don't think.

Only one member has said YES too by the way.

Edit: Five members have said yes, you may have cause to rehash the thread if Inglis continues on his merry way to building on his legacy.

 

[watatank]

If Inglis does start off in the centres, the back row/centre combination will be quite awesome. You have Taylor on the left who can create more than enough space for Inglis through his size alone