Arthritis torments GI

GREG Inglis has such bad arthritis in his left shoulder he can barely lift it above the horizontal.

Fears that the shoulder could lead to his premature retirement was the catalyst to South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett giving his superstar a week’s leave.

Inglis has set himself such a high level of on-field excellence that he is concerned he may be unable to attain those standards again.

While there are other issues at play, one well-placed source said Inglis’s shoulder was the “most worrying factor”.

The Queensland and Australian great has been told to visit family and friends over the next week – and work on his injury recovery – before determining if he has the will and drive to continue in the NRL.