MAROONS COACH STANDS BY INGLIS
WALTERS TO STAND BY HIS SKIPPER
GREG Inglis’ hold on the Queensland captaincy has not been jeopardised by his drinkdriving charge.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters said he and QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher had agreed yesterday that his two- match suspension from the Australian Kangaroos side this month and loss of the captaincy was sufficient penalty because he had ac- cepted responsibility. Inglis, who was charged by NSW police on Monday for speeding and for returning a .085 blood alcohol reading at Lithgow, captained Queensland in the two Origin matches this year in which he was fit to play.
The NRL announced Inglis’ sanctions two hours after he had declined to relinquish his firsttime captaincy appointment.
He apologised for his drinkdriving, but effectively left any penalty within the game up to the NRL.
“We support what the NRL have done but it won’t affect what we do with Greg next year for the Origin series,’’ Walters told News Corp.
“Greg will be the Queensland captain, touch wood. He did a great job for us ( when appointed) this year and we know he’s a very strong leader.
“I spoke to Bruce this morning and we were of the same opinion. We are disappointed with Greg’s actions, certainly. “Greg understands it was stupid what he did and it was fortunate no one was injured. He apologised for that.’’
Inglis returned a mid- range blood alcohol reading when his car pulled over at Lithgow, 155km from Gulgong, where he said he had started driving at about midday on Monday.
Australian coach Mal Meninga said Inglis, 31, would be welcomed back into the Kangaroos next year by his teammates and management.
South Sydney teammate Dane Gagai was added to the 18- man Australian squad as a replacement for Inglis.
Asked if he hoped the public would accept the QRL view that two- Test ban and loss of the Australian captaincy would be sufficient penalty, Walters said, “I’d hope so. It’s not an easy one because it’s a serious offence.
“He said he shouldn’t have put himself in that position and I’m sure he will do everything to make sure it doesn’t happen again.’’
Inglis said South Sydney officials had assured him he would be Rabbitohs captain in 2019.
Asked if he was concerned about Inglis, who has a history of needing assistance for mental health issues, over the next few days, Walters said: “I think he’s in a good place, talking to him this morning. He apologised for that and is happy to say that.
“Let’s hope out of this, other people will think when they get behind the wheel ( after drinking alcohol), ‘ Am I right or not?’ ( and) they will take the Plan B ( and not drive).’’
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said it was a difficult decision to suspend Inglis in view of his “exemplary re- cord’’. “Greg is one of our best role models, but he made a poor decision on this occasion,” Greenberg said.
“It is a mark of the man that he has accepted responsibility for his actions and I have no doubt he will overcome this setback and retain his status as a true leader in our game.”
Sydney Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner is the new captain, becoming the first NSW leader to captain the Kangaroos since Danny Buderus in 2005, and the first Roosters player since Brad Fittler in 2001.
It comes after he’d joined an illustrious group earlier this week, with Steve Mortimer the only other NSW captain to have won an Origin series and premiership in the same year in 1985.
Cordner can go one step better when Australia takes on both the Kiwis and Tonga in Auckland on October 13 and 20 respectively.