This is the first in a two part series of the FOR and AGAINST Greg Inglis coming to rugby.
At the ripe age of 23, Greg Inglis’ has achieved it all in Rugby League, including the golden boot award for the world’s best mungo. He has done this by leading from the front, scoring a try in almost every game for his country and his state of Origin Queensland (25 tries in 29 games).
Due to the inability of any NRL side to fit this great talent into their salary cap, he is a free agent at a very unfortunate time. Three months out from kick-off, all teams have finalized their roster for the season and after the salary cap debacle of the Melbourne Storm, not even Russell Crowe’s South Sydney can find a way to fit in this prodigious talent.
So where does that leave GI? According to the papers – behind on his rent payments and in need of a gig. The AFL may be interested in taking him on but according to ‘Stoff’ on the forum, GI would have to take a Rookie contract (as all senior team lists have been filled) for a meager 120k or so.
I smell an opportunity and I am very surprised that John O’Neill hasn’t yet pounced. It seems that for the paltry sum of 250k plus a few third party payments we could have the once in a lifetime opportunity to bring one of Leagues greatest players into the ‘game they play in heaven’ in a world cup year. That’s about a quarter of what we pay a certain bench warmer for the Wallabies at the moment!
At 195cm (6ft 5inch) and 118kg Greg Inglis is one serious unit. To put that into perspective for those that haven’t seen the man tear defences apart in rugby league, that is the same height and one kilo lighter than Jonah Lomu.
Add this to this blistering pace, the best fend in either code of rugby (probably ever), amazing ball handling skills, incredible decision making skills and you get a picture of what makes this man one of Leagues greatest players.
I know Lance Free will bang on about certain off field transgressions but what many people don’t realise is that we are buying more than just a player here but a brand. With the Melbourne Rebels looking to stake a claim to Australia’s most passionate sporting city, they need all the help they can get. What better help than Melbourne Storm’s greatest and most popular player? GI’s following alone would be triple what the Rebels entire team has in local support.
At the grassroots level Greg Inglis one of the Aboriginal Communities cult figures. If he were to start playing rugby union, especially for the Wallabies in a World Cup year he could change the face of grassroots rugby. If I were a parent from an ethnic or aboriginal background I would be dubious about wanting my kids to play a game like League with racism rife throughout such as the John’s/Tahu saga of 2010 (not to mention the beastiality of late). Having GI, the player kids most idolise playing along side stars like Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper in a World Cup for the Green and Gold; we may just have our best chances in our games history to have kids from all walks of life kicking a Gilbert at the Park instead of a Sheridan or a Steeden.
For the Wallabies we are bringing on board our own SBW, but bigger and with a better fend. We are bringing on a future outside centre, which is a void we need filling with some size and power since we lost Morty to injuries. Only GI hits harder than Mortlock, runs faster and passes better. How many times does such an opportunity present itself for a quarter of what we paid Tiquiri?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_mv9ErPT1c[/youtube]
| Team | Matches | Tries | Points |
| Club | 117 | 78 | 333 |
| QLD | 13 | 10 | 40 |
| Aust | 16 | 15 | 60 |
LIST OF ACCOLADES
Individual
• 2006 Rugby League International Federation International Newcomer of the Year Award
• 2007 Melbourne Storm Team of the Decade (Centre)
• 2007 Clive Churchill Medalist
• 2008 Indigenous Team of the Century (Centre)
• 2008 Dally M Peter Frilingos Memorial Award for the headline moment of the year
• 2008 Dally M Five-eighth of the Year
• 2008 Dally M Representative Player of the Year
• 2009 Wally Lewis Medalist
• 2009 Dally M Representative Player of the Year
• 2009 Melbourne Storm Back of the Year Award
• 2009 Rugby League Four Nations Player of the Tournament
• 2009 Golden Boot Award Rugby League World International Player of the Year
Melbourne Storm
• 2006 Minor Premiers (stripped)
• 2006 Grand Final Runner-Up
• 2007 Minor Premiers (stripped)
• 2007 Premiers (stripped)
• 2008 Minor Premiers (stripped)
• 2008 Grand Final Runner-Up
• 2009 Premiers (stripped)
