Round 1 return in Inglis’ sights

RUGBY LEAGUE THE forgotten man at South Sydney – superstar Greg Inglis – yesterday uttered the four words Rabbitohs fans have been desperate to hear: “I’m ready to go.”

Now he just has to convince Souths medicos to unleash him on the NRL competition.

In another massive boost for the Rabbitohs, Inglis has revealed he wants to play for another four years.

The Queensland and Australian star has just completed his first full week of training since injuring his ACL in round one against Wests Tigers last year.

Inglis has now returned fresh and focused and is pushing for a round-one return against New Zealand Warriors in Perth.

Souths’ medical staff, however, remain cautious and may force Inglis to wait until round two or three to get back out on the field.

“There are no self-doubts,” Inglis said. “It’s all about the confidence. Hopefully I can get back into it and pick up where I left off.

“I have done everything right training-wise. I have ticked all the boxes.

“I haven’t had a major injury like this before but I’ve been doing a lot of things at training which I would be replicating on the field.

“My injury is coming along really well, it’s good. I completed my first full week last week.

“I’m looking at the end of the tunnel now. I don’t have a time frame on exactly when I will be back — when it comes around, it comes around. I will keep pushing for round one.”

Inglis, who is likely to play centre this year with Alex Johnston taking over full-time at fullback, remains under contract with Souths until 2020.

But the 31-year-old wants to play on for at least an extra season once his deal expires.

“Why not? Hopefully I can kick along beyond 2020,” Inglis said. “When that time comes, we’ll talk and revisit it.

“Even one more year … but we’ll wait and see how my body holds up and see which way the club wants to head.”

Inglis completed a threeweek stint in May last year at a mental rehabilitation facility in Sydney’s west.

He said at the time that the season-ending injury was the catalyst for his illness.

While reluctant to fully discuss it yesterday, Inglis did say: “I’m feeling really fresh now. Being around the boys and training makes you forget everything else.”

South Sydney teammate Robbie Farah described Inglis’s return this season as “massive”.

“One of the major reasons I signed at Souths was to have the opportunity to play with GI,” Farah said.

I HAVEN’T HAD A MAJOR INJURY LIKE THIS BEFORE BUT I’VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF THINGS AT TRAINING WHICH I WOULD BE REPLICATING ON THE FIELD

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