Eel likely to lose sleep over stopping Inglis
Brent Read
September 06, 2006
BEN SMITH is expecting some sleepless nights this week.
The Parramatta centre, whose third year in first grade has been plagued by ankle problems, is facing one of the game's toughest assignments at Olympic Park on Sunday - stopping Melbourne's rising star Greg Inglis. Smith openly admits it's the sort of match-up which leaves him tossing and turning at night. We always suspected players like Inglis and St George Ilawarra centre Mark Gasnier gave opponents nightmares, now Smith has confirmed it.
"It will keep me on my toes anyway," Smith said.
"I think it's good to come up against those sort of blokes. They're the blokes you lose a bit of sleep over.
"Players of that calibre, they can do anything. You just have to go out there and do your best. It will be a great test for me."
The Smith-Inglis match-up is one of several duels expected to illuminate Olympic Park in the opening round of the finals.
Both are inexperienced by NRL standards but stock skills and maturity beyond their years.
Inglis, in particular, has been outstanding this season - his second in the top grade.
The Storm centre leads the club in try-scoring and line breaks.
"He's a freakish talent. I played against him in a trial at the start of the year but that's no example of how good he's going at the moment. He's so deceptively strong, very athletic and he can do anything on the field," Smith said yesterday.
"We'll have our work cut out but I'm confident with the boys I have got on my edges."
Smith isn't the only Parramatta player or official concerned with the influence Inglis could have on the qualifying final.
Parramatta coach Jason Taylor nominated the gifted centre as one of the individuals capable of changing the outcome of Sunday's game.
"Greg Inglis is a good player and there's no doubt that's something Melbourne have over other teams in the comp. They have a couple of players who can really turn a game," Taylor said.
"They're a very solid, hard-working team but they do have some guys who can turn a game in one play. That's something we'll do some work on for sure."
While Inglis is foremost in Parramatta's thoughts, the Eels have game-breakers of their own, the rangy Smith being one.
Born in Gunnedah in northwest NSW, Smith, 21, is aiming to make his mark after a disappointing season. He was branded a future representative player after scoring 14 tries in 18 games last year when the Eels won the minor premiership.
But an ankle problem, which required surgery, affected him early this season and still concerns him.
"It's very depressing," Smith said of his time on the sidelines.
"I was out for a lot longer than expected and the ankle still wasn't right. It's gradually got stronger. It's still not quite (100 per cent). It's sore after training and games.
"I'm still a bit behind. There was a bit of confidence lost with my ankle."
His return to form has been augmented by the availability of forwards Nathan Cayless and Michael Vella, whose selection comes at the expense of Wade McKinnon and Brett Delaney.
Cayless missed last round's loss to North Queensland with a fractured eye socket while Vella was a late withdrawal after contracting a virus on the day of the game.
Offsetting their return is the fact Melbourne will be at full strength. Coach Craig Bellamy has named a 20-man squad which includes Queensland forward Michael Crocker and New Zealand back Jake Webster on an extended bench.
"We need to play as well as we can," Taylor said. "If we play our best game of footy we're hard to beat no matter who we play. We'll be ready to play with the energy we played with when we were at our very best."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20360958-2722,00.html
