‘I won’t let you down’
As Maroons dynasty’s last man standing, Inglis pledges to extend reign
GREG Inglis says he will not fail the record-breaking Maroons as the newly appointed captain prepares to lead Queensland through one of their most turbulent periods in Origin history.
It is significant that Inglis will lead Queensland on to the MCG next Wednesday night because the giant centre is the last remaining link with the Maroons team that created a record Origin dynasty.
Matt Scott’s axing and Cameron Smith’s representative retirement have left Inglis the sole survivor from the 2006 Queensland side that propelled the Maroons to 11 series wins in 12 years.
He is also one of just four survivors from the class of Game Three, 2016.
That’s just four matches ago, a clear sign just how drastic the Maroons overhaul has been under second-year mentor Kevin Walters, who succeeded the long-serving Mal Meninga.
Now Inglis is a 31-year-old leader who will equal Wally Lewis with his 31st Origin game in the MCG opener, vowing to uphold the cultural standards of captaincy predecessors Smith and Darren Lockyer.
There is no other member of Queensland’s 2018 playing squad that was part of the Maroons’ epic series win 12 years ago. Even coach Mal Meninga, who won nine of 10 series, has walked away.
That leaves Inglis as the last man standing of a Queensland dynasty he insists must not topple on his watch.
“I just want the Queensland team to be successful,” said Inglis, State of Origin’s leading tryscorer with 18 from 30 games.
“I played for Queensland at 19 and now I’m captain of this great side at 31 – it’s overwhelming.
“I have learnt from the best.
“I have been around a lot of great people and great players and I have taken notes from a lot of them.
“We have great people in this team that know what this Maroons team is about and what we stand for.”