didn't see this mentioned anywhere...
Inglis may be clear to help ailing Storm
GREG INGLIS is set to make his return for Melbourne in Saturday night's farewell home match at Olympic Park against Sydney Roosters if an application to have the charges against him dropped is successful.
Inglis, who was stood down indefinitely by the Storm two weeks ago after being charged with recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault of his long-term partner Sally Robinson, is due to appear in court tomorrow but the Herald understands there is a possibility that the charges may be dropped before then.
If they are not, the Australian and Queensland star is expected to ask the court to dismiss the case after Robinson provided police with new information about the incident she hopes will clear him following his initial appearance in Sunshine Magistrates Court on August 12.
Inglis sought and was granted a two-week adjournment until tomorrow and he has remained under suspension from playing, although the 22-year-old centre returned to training last week.
But after watching the Storm suffer back-to-back losses that have them on the verge of dropping out of the top four and possibly even missing the final eight, Inglis is desperate to return.
The Storm board is due to meet after tomorrow's scheduled court hearing to decide Inglis's immediate playing future and if the charges are dropped there is little doubt it will seek to reinstate him.
A final decision would be left to the NRL but it is unlikely he would be prevented from playing in what is Melbourne's last home game - and the club's final match at Olympic Park before moving into a new $267.5 million purpose-built stadium next season - if the case against him is dismissed.
It is understood that the signed statement that Robinson provided to police through her lawyer reveals specific information about what triggered the altercation at her Melbourne unit in the early hours of August 9. The statement is also understood to refer to Inglis trying to disarm her while she was in the process of self-harm.
Since being arrested and charged the following day, Inglis has maintained his silence but believes he has acted with dignity and decency. After the Storm's loss to Manly on Sunday, while coach Craig Bellamy conducted his debrief, Inglis stood outside the dressing room, symbolising the no man's land which he is now forced to occupy. He said he believed he acted with respect to the law but was desperate to return to the field.
Inglis's return this weekend may coincide with that of injured Manly international Brett Stewart, whom he co-starred with in this season's NRL television commercial before the former Test fullback was pulled from the $1.5 million advertising campaign in March after being charged with sexual assault.
Stewart, who was stood down from the opening four premiership matches for being intoxicated at the Sea Eagles' boozy season launch, has been sidelined for all but two matches this year but yesterday underwent scans on his injured knee and if he receives the all-clear is expected to make his comeback in Sunday's clash with Cronulla at Brookvale Oval.
Stewart's return would offset the loss of the injured Jamie Lyon (shoulder) and Shane Rodney (broken thumb).
Meanwhile, North Queensland fullback Matt Bowen may undergo the same radical surgery on his right knee he successfully underwent on his left knee last year which involves growing cartilage before having it inserted in the knee. If so, Bowen would be sidelined until June next year.
In other news, Wests Tigers prop Bryce Gibbs is expected to challenge a grade-two contrary-conduct charge relating to a kneeing incident last Friday night.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/...lp-ailing-storm/2009/08/24/1251001857167.html
Inglis may be clear to help ailing Storm
GREG INGLIS is set to make his return for Melbourne in Saturday night's farewell home match at Olympic Park against Sydney Roosters if an application to have the charges against him dropped is successful.
Inglis, who was stood down indefinitely by the Storm two weeks ago after being charged with recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault of his long-term partner Sally Robinson, is due to appear in court tomorrow but the Herald understands there is a possibility that the charges may be dropped before then.
If they are not, the Australian and Queensland star is expected to ask the court to dismiss the case after Robinson provided police with new information about the incident she hopes will clear him following his initial appearance in Sunshine Magistrates Court on August 12.
Inglis sought and was granted a two-week adjournment until tomorrow and he has remained under suspension from playing, although the 22-year-old centre returned to training last week.
But after watching the Storm suffer back-to-back losses that have them on the verge of dropping out of the top four and possibly even missing the final eight, Inglis is desperate to return.
The Storm board is due to meet after tomorrow's scheduled court hearing to decide Inglis's immediate playing future and if the charges are dropped there is little doubt it will seek to reinstate him.
A final decision would be left to the NRL but it is unlikely he would be prevented from playing in what is Melbourne's last home game - and the club's final match at Olympic Park before moving into a new $267.5 million purpose-built stadium next season - if the case against him is dismissed.
It is understood that the signed statement that Robinson provided to police through her lawyer reveals specific information about what triggered the altercation at her Melbourne unit in the early hours of August 9. The statement is also understood to refer to Inglis trying to disarm her while she was in the process of self-harm.
Since being arrested and charged the following day, Inglis has maintained his silence but believes he has acted with dignity and decency. After the Storm's loss to Manly on Sunday, while coach Craig Bellamy conducted his debrief, Inglis stood outside the dressing room, symbolising the no man's land which he is now forced to occupy. He said he believed he acted with respect to the law but was desperate to return to the field.
Inglis's return this weekend may coincide with that of injured Manly international Brett Stewart, whom he co-starred with in this season's NRL television commercial before the former Test fullback was pulled from the $1.5 million advertising campaign in March after being charged with sexual assault.
Stewart, who was stood down from the opening four premiership matches for being intoxicated at the Sea Eagles' boozy season launch, has been sidelined for all but two matches this year but yesterday underwent scans on his injured knee and if he receives the all-clear is expected to make his comeback in Sunday's clash with Cronulla at Brookvale Oval.
Stewart's return would offset the loss of the injured Jamie Lyon (shoulder) and Shane Rodney (broken thumb).
Meanwhile, North Queensland fullback Matt Bowen may undergo the same radical surgery on his right knee he successfully underwent on his left knee last year which involves growing cartilage before having it inserted in the knee. If so, Bowen would be sidelined until June next year.
In other news, Wests Tigers prop Bryce Gibbs is expected to challenge a grade-two contrary-conduct charge relating to a kneeing incident last Friday night.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/...lp-ailing-storm/2009/08/24/1251001857167.html
