Inglis ruled out for rest of season

GREG Inglis told Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire he wanted to play on in the second half of South Sydney’s demoralising openinground loss as the club yesterday defended its handling of the star’s season-ending knee injury.

Inglis played for almost 50 minutes as a virtual passenger on Friday night but, remarkably, still managed to score a try.

The Rabbitohs receiving a crushing blow yesterday when it was confirmed the 30-year-old will need to have a knee reconstruction and be out for at least six months.

It virtually rules Inglis out of the rest of the NRL season, Queensland’s State of Origin campaign and casts doubt over whether he will be fit for Australia’s World Cup defence in October.

The Rabbitohs yesterday all but ruled out experimenting with a LARS knee reconstruction, which can halve recovery time, while resisting criticism of Inglis’ treatment by South Sydney’s medical staff.

The superstar was reduced to a near spectator on the field as his opposite James Tedesco ran riot for the Tigers and debutant Moses Suli had a field day.

‘‘We only found it was an ACL [yesterday] and had no idea on Friday night,’’ Rabbitohs general manager of football Shane Richardson said. ‘‘When he was assessed at halftime we didn’t think he could do any more damage – which he couldn’t – and there wasn’t [any more damage done]. The assessment was made by the medical staff at halftime and Greg wanted to go back on. He spoke to Madge [Maguire] a minute-and-a-half before they went back on because he was in the treatment room, and they said, ‘let’s give it a go’.’’ The Sun-Herald