Greg Inglis
Encyclopedia
Greg Inglis is an Australian professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A Queensland State of Origin
and Australian international representative outside back, Inglis joined the Rabbitohs in 2011 after much controversy.
Inglis is a versatile back, having played in several positions during his career. He originally played on the wing or in the centres. He even played at fullback when Billy Slater
was unavailable. Between 2007 and early 2009 he played at five-eighth for the Melbourne Storm
before he switched to centre when Brett Finch
arrived at the Storm, where he played for the remainder of his time at the club until the end of 2010
. Inglis' representative matches for Queensland and Australia have been as a winger or centre.
In November 2009, Inglis won the highly coveted Golden Boot Award as the world's best player – presented to him by Rugby League World
magazine, becoming the third consecutive Storm player to win it, after Cameron Smith
(2007) and Billy Slater
(2008).
His cousins are Albert Kelly
of the Cronulla Sharks
, Beau Champion
of the Gold Coast Titans
and former player Preston Campbell
.
. At only 15 years old, after being seen playing at a junior carnival on the NSW North Coast. Inglis has played with many greatrs whilst growing up, such as Raynor Leuta, fullback for the Bowraville Tigers before moving to the NZ Warriors. Inglis signed his first professional contract with the Melbourne Storm
but actually played his first senior game at 16 for Newcastle Hunter in New South Wales. While in Year 11 at Brisbane's Wavell State High School
, Inglis played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2004 and was already attracting media attention as an NRL star of the future. He played his first under 18s game for the Brisbane Wombats in 2004. Before the end of the 2004 season the Storm had added Inglis to their full-time playing roster for the following year.
, scoring a try in the Storm's win. While playing for Brisbane's Norths Devils
in the 2005 Queensland Cup, Inglis scored 12 tries in five games and had already become the subject of a custody battle between Queensland and New South Wales over which state he would play State of Origin
for. He scored 194 points for the Norths Devils
in the Queensland Cup
. Inglis made his NRL
Premiership debut at eighteen years of age as a replacement to injured winger Jake Webster
in Melbourne's
match against the Parramatta Eels
, scoring a try in a 14–26 loss.
Inglis would go on to play a month later at fullback, against the South Sydney Rabbitohs
, scoring another try. He played at fullback when Billy Slater
was on Origin duty, or at wing or the bench as he slowly solidified himself in the Storm side. At the 2005 Dally M Awards
Inglis was nominated for the Rookie of the Year, but lost to Parramatta's Tim Smith.
The Storm went on to reach the finals that season and in a playoff match against Brisbane, Inglis got his first experience in finals football. With the game still in the balance, Billy Slater
was helped from the field with an ankle injury and Inglis replaced him. After being on the field for five minutes, he crossed the Broncos' line untouched to score the match-winning try.
Unfortunately for the Storm, they lost in the Semi-Finals to the North Queensland Cowboys
16–24, ending their season.
, but the role was given to Cameron Smith
after Inglis kicked just 1 from 5 against the New Zealand Warriors
. After scoring 9 tries in 9 games, he was selected in the starting line up in the Queensland State of Origin team
.
His selection in the Queensland squad (along with teammate Israel Folau
) caused some controversy. Inglis was born and raised in Bowraville, New South Wales
, and played his first senior football in NSW (in the Arrive Alive Cup). League statistician David Middleton believed that Inglis should be playing for NSW. The matter was resolved when the ARL gave Inglis the green light to play for Queensland, because it ruled that his first senior football was at Wavell High. However, later investigations revealed that Inglis played his first senior game for Newcastle's Hunter Sports High School at the age of 16, and is therefore technically not eligible to play for Queensland.
However, Inglis went on to begin his State of Origin career with the Maroons. A few early errors were soon forgotten when Inglis scored two tries and saved one. Unfortunately for Inglis, this was not enough for Queensland to win the match.
In the game after his brilliant Origin debut, Inglis suffered a back injury against the Sydney Roosters
. This injury kept him out for two months, effectively making him miss the rest of the Origin series. It was around this time that Inglis signed for the Storm for a further four seasons, keeping him at the club until 2010. The deal was worth about $2 million, making him the richest teenager in Rugby League. On return, Inglis returned to the centre position and was an important factor in the Storm winning the 2006 Minor Premiership
. The Storm cruised through the finals, beating the Parramatta Eels
12–6, and the St. George Illawarra Dragons 24–10, and eventually met the Brisbane Broncos
in the 2006 NRL Grand Final, which was won by the Broncos, 15–8. Inglis finished the season with 18 tries and 2 goals, an effort which earned him selection in the Australian
team for the 2006 Tri-Nations series
.
Inglis scored four tries in his opening three tests against New Zealand
and England
and featured in the Final win over New Zealand
, 16–12.
which kept him out of the 2007 ANZAC Test
. Despite not scoring at five-eighth, Inglis was selected for the Queensland State of Origin team
for the 2007 State of Origin series, playing on the wing. In Game I, he scored 2 tries in Queensland's 25–18 come-from-behind victory.
Inglis finally scored his first try of 2007 in Round 12, against the South Sydney Rabbitohs
. He was again selected to play on the wing for his state, and scored in Queensland's 10–6 win, which gave Queensland their second consecutive Origin series victory. Despite scoring 3 tries in 2 games on the wing for QLD, Storm coach Craig Bellamy kept pursuing Inglis as a five-eighth. Inglis scored his first double for the NRL Season against the North Queensland Cowboys
. In Game III of the Origin series, Inglis injured a ligament in his knee after just 22 minutes, and as a result missed 2 weeks of action. QLD ultimately lost the game, 18–4, but had already wrapped up the series.
Following his return, Inglis and the Storm focused on the finals. The Storm suffered their third loss of 2007 in Round 20 against a Brad Fittler
coached Sydney Roosters side. Following this, the Storm remained undefeated for the rest of the season, winning their second consecutive Minor Premiership
.
In the finals, the Storm got redemption from the heartbreaking 2006 loss after beating the Brisbane Broncos
40–0 in the Qualifying Final, eliminating them from the competition for 2007. They defeated the Parramatta Eels
26–10 in what turned out to be Timana Tahu's
last game before switching to Rugby Union
. In the 2007 NRL Grand Final
, the Storm faced off against the Manly Sea Eagles, who finished second. After a 10–4 lead at halftime and an untimely injury to Brett Stewart
, the Storm blew Manly off the park, winning 34–8. Inglis scored two tries and as a result was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal
.
Inglis also played in the one-off test at the end of the year. Inglis scored a hat-trick in Australia's record breaking 58–0 thrashing of New Zealand
.
Later that year, Inglis was selected as a Centre in the Storm's "team of the decade" to celebrate their ten year anniversary.
, which the Storm lost 10–6, giving them their first consecutive losses since Round 3 and 4 of the 2006 NRL Season (they lost to the Cronulla Sharks
the previous week). Over the next month, Inglis featured the Storm's wins over Brisbane Broncos
, Grand Final opponents Manly Sea Eagles, Canberra Raiders
and North Queensland Cowboys
.
Inglis was selected in the Australian team
for the historical Centenary Test
against New Zealand
. Inglis provided a historical moment, by amazingly hitting the ball into the field of play to provide Mark Gasnier
with a try. Australia won 28–12. Inglis was selected to play for Queensland
for the 2008 State of Origin series in the centres. He was in Queensland's Game I loss to New South Wales
, 18–10. In Game II, he had a brilliant performance, setting up two tries for Darius Boyd
as QLD won 30–0.
Around this time, Sonny Bill Williams
walked out of the Bulldogs and joined French Rugby Union
side RC Toulonnais
, despite being contracted with the Dogs until 2012. This move was believed to be instigated by Khoder Nassar, who is also the manager of former 3-time World Champion boxer Anthony Mundine
, who walked out of the St. George Illawarra Dragons in 2000. Inglis, who is family friends with both Mundine and Nassar, was rumoured to be on the verge of walking out of the Storm and joining Super 14
side the Western Force
, despite being contracted until 2010. However, Inglis stayed loyal to the Storm and extended his contract until 2012.
In a match against the North Queensland Cowboys
, Inglis scored his first hat-trick since Round 5, 2006, as the Storm won 48–20. In Game III of the Origin series, QLD won 16–10, getting their third consecutive series win. Despite having a solid series, Inglis failed to score during the Origin campaign. In the final 7 games of season, Inglis scored 11 tries as the Storm won their third consecutive Minor Premiership
. At the 2008 Dally M Awards, Inglis was named Five-Eighth of the Year and Representative Player of the Year, as well as winning the Headline Moment of the Year for his brilliant assist to Mark Gasnier
in the 2008 Centenary Test.
In the finals, the Storm lost 15–18 to the 8th place New Zealand Warriors
, becoming the first 1st placed team to lose an 8th place team. In the Semi-Finals, the Storm faced the Brisbane Broncos
. In a brilliant match, Inglis scored with 56 seconds remaining to give the Storm a 16–14 victory. The Storm easily beat the Cronulla Sharks
, 28–0, to qualify to another Grand Final. However, they lost in a record breaking 40–0 clash with the Manly Sea Eagles, failing to retain their Premiership.
In August 2008, Inglis was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
.
Inglis was confirmed in the final 24-man Australia squad to compete in the World Cup at the end of the 2008 season. He scored in Australia's 30–6 win over New Zealand, and a hat-trick in their 52–4 win over England
. He also scored in the Semi-Final win over Fiji, before Australia surprisingly lost the Final, 34–20, against New Zealand. Inglis scored 6 tries in 4 games for the tournament, and scored in every match he played for the tournament.
but also his first game coaching the St George Illawarra Dragons
, by scoring the match winning point.
The Storm had a shaky start to the season, going by a win-loss pattern until Round 7, which they drew with the New Zealand Warriors
. They extracted Grand Final revenge on Premiers Manly, with Inglis scoring. During this time, Storm coach Craig Bellamy experimented by putting Cameron Smith
at five-eighth, Inglis back in the centres and Ryan Hinchcliffe
at hooker. However, after Brett Finch
was released by the Parramatta Eels
, the Storm signed him and made him their first choice five-eighth, putting Inglis back at his preferred centres position.
He was selected for Australia in the one-off test match against New Zealand
on 8 May 2009. This selected was unique, as Inglis was part of an all-Queensland backline, including Billy Slater
, Darius Boyd
, Justin Hodges
, Israel Folau
, Darren Lockyer
and Johnathan Thurston
. This feat had not been achieved since 1924. Australia won 38–10, with the superstar backline scoring all the points, proving Queensland's recent dominance.
In April 2009, he was named in the preliminary 25-man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin
match for 2009, and was subsequently picked at centre for the opening State of Origin match. In Game I, Inglis scored 2 tries, as Queensland won 28–18. Meanwhile, the Storm maintained their position in the Top 4 of the NRL competition.
In Game II, Inglis scored again as Queensland recorded a 24–14 win over New South Wales
, becoming the first team to win 4 consecutive Origin series. In Game II, Inglis was taken off the field in the first half after receiving a punch to the face from Trent Barrett
, but still played against the Canberra Raiders
that weekend in which he scored.
In Game III, New South Wales won 28–16, in a game that featured a memorable brawl in the 79th minute. Inglis received the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series that year in recognition of his efforts during the 2009 State of Origin
.
After Karmichael Hunt
shockingly signed with the new AFL
club the Gold Coast, Inglis revealed he wouldn't mind "having a crack" at AFL. This created concern that Inglis may make a switch, but Inglis made it clear on the Footy Show that he will fulfill his contract with the Melbourne Storm. Inglis was arrested at his home in August for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. The Storm suspended Inglis indefinitely until he was cleared.
After his court hearing was postponed to October, Inglis made his comeback against the Sydney Roosters
, scoring a double in the Storm's final game at Olympic Park
. Inglis also scored in the Storm's 30–0 win over the New Zealand Warriors
as they finished 4th for the season. At the 2009 Dally M Awards
Inglis was named centre of the year and representative player of the year.
In the finals, the Storm comfortably defeated Premiers Manly 40–12, before defeating the Brisbane Broncos
40–10, in which Inglis scored a hat-trick. The Storm qualified for their fourth consecutive Grand Final, against the Parramatta Eels
. Ironically, the Eels were the last team to make it to four consecutive Grand Finals in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984.
In the 2009 NRL Grand Final
against the Parramatta Eels
, Inglis scored a try from a Cooper Cronk
bomb and kicked a final field goal in the Storm's 23–16 win. From this victory, Inglis become a dual-premiership player as the Storm capped off their dominance by winning their second premiership in three years.
Post-season he travelled with the Kangaroos to Europe to play in the 2009 Four Nations tournament. He played in the 20 all draw with New Zealand
, and scored in a 26–16 win over England
. He also scored in the 46–16 Final win over England and was named player of the series in the Four nations final.
Inglis also claimed the Golden Boot Award for the best rugby league player in the world. In December 2009 Inglis won his state's major sporting award by being named "Sport Star of the Year" at the Queensland Sports Awards, becoming the first footballer of any code to win it.
in the 2010 World Club Challenge
which the Storm won, 18–10. On 19 April 2010, against rivals the Manly Sea Eagles, Inglis injured his ankle but was later ruled to have not suffered a serious injury, continued his playing duties. The Storm subsequently lost 16–18, their first back to back losses of the season, and their last game before the salary cap drama unfolded.
It was revealed that the Storm had been breaching the salary cap since 2005, and were subsequently stripped of their NRL Premiership victories in 2007 and 2009. They were also stripped of their 2006, 2007 and 2008 Minor Premiership
trophies. Finally, they were stripped of their accumulated premiership points that season and were barred from obtaining any competition points from the 2010 NRL Season
, meaning they will inevitably get the wooden spoon, the first in the club's history. Inglis was still allowed to continue to be recognised as the Clive Churchill Medal
list from the 2007 Grand Final.
In Round 10, Inglis scored a personal best 16 points, with 3 tries and 2 goals against the Canberra Raiders
. In doing so, he brought his career try tally to 72 tries, overtaking Marcus Bai
to become the 3rd highest tryscorer for the Melbourne Storm, behind retired legend Matt Geyer
and current teammate Billy Slater
. In Game I of the 2010 State of Origin series
, Inglis scored a try in Queensland's 28–24 win as they look to achieve a 5th straight series win.
In the lead up to Origin II, Inglis was the subject of a racial comment made by NSW Assistant Coach Andrew Johns
, which led to NSW winger Timana Tahu
walk out of camp. This triggered Inglis to have a big Game II, scoring the opening try and engaging in a brawl with debutant Beau Scott
. This 34–6 victory to Queensland gave them their record fifth straight series win. Inglis continued his strong week, scoring 10 points (1 try, 3 goals) in the Storm's 58–12 thrashing of the North Queensland Cowboys
. QLD achieved their first series whitewash since 1995, and the first of Origin since 2000, to cap off their fifth consecutive series win, winning a thrilling 23–18 encounter.
In the wake of the salary cap problems at the Storm, Inglis' future at the club after 2010 became uncertain. Many clubs from four football codes (rugby league, rugby union, American football and Australian rules) pursued him. Clubs included the Brisbane Broncos
, Gold Coast Titans
, South Sydney Rabbitohs
, Catalans Dragons
, Essendon Football Club
and New York Jets
. On 10 August 2010, Inglis signed with the Brisbane Broncos
for the 2011
and 2012 NRL seasons in a deal worth $1.2 million. The Broncos had released a key player in Israel Folau
who joined AFL
club GWS, which freed up the funds necessary to secure Inglis' services. Inglis' girlfriend Sally Robinson was living and working in Brisbane, a factor which is said to have helped Inglis make his decision to sign with the Broncos.
On 1 September 2010, the Broncos ordered Inglis to have a shoulder reconstruction in the 2010–2011 off-season. This caused Inglis to miss the end of year Four Nations
. In his final game for the Storm, against the Newcastle Knights
, Inglis scored 2 tries as the Storm won 34–4. The win sent off several players who were leaving the club at the end of 2010 due to the salary cap drama.
made an offer to Inglis. Inglis missed the Broncos first training session of the 2010–2011 pre-season on 1 November, citing bad weather in Sydney, where he was staying, as the reason. Two days later, future Broncos team-mate Justin Hodges
criticised the treatment of Inglis, saying Inglis is considering walking out of rugby league. On 5 November, the Broncos gave Inglis a 24-hour deadline to sign with the club. On 6 November, after Inglis failed to reach Brisbane, the Broncos pulled out of signing Inglis, leaving him without a club for 2011 and beyond. Inglis also received an offer from French rugby club Toulon
, backing up Hodges' claim that Inglis may walk out of rugby league.
included Rabbitohs owner Russell Crowe
, Inglis's close friend Anthony Mundine
, Inglis's cousin Beau Champion
and billionaire Andrew Forrest
. On 12 November, Inglis signed with the South Sydney Rabbitohs
for the 2011
, 2012 and 2013 NRL Seasons. The deal was worth $1.8 million. Inglis attended his first training session on 15 November. However, third-party deals totaling $200,000 had to be included within South Sydney's salary cap which placed the Rabbits over the NRL salary cap. The deal was not officially approved by the NRL, the Melbourne Storm or the NRL's auditor, Ian Schubert.
By 18 December, no deal had been solidified with the Rabbitohs, putting Inglis's NRL career into doubt. According to reports, Schubert refused to accept the contract signed with the Rabbitohs, leaving Inglis to consider leaving the NRL. Inglis soon met with AFL
clubs St. Kilda and Essendon
.
On 24 December, it was officially announced that Inglis had signed the contract with the Rabbitohs for three seasons, ironically at the expense of cousin Beau Champion, who signed with Melbourne Storm for the same period of time.
. Inglis picked up his first win as a member of the Rabbitohs in a 32–18 victory of the Parramatta Eels
in Round 3.
The Rabbitohs struggled in the early stages of the season, registering just 3 victories in the opening 8 weeks. The Rabbitohs announced the signing of former Storm
assistant coach Michael Maguire
, who Inglis knows very well, as their coach for 2012 and beyond, but the Rabbitohs had to deal with England international Sam Burgess
being ruled out for the season, as well as the news of halfback Chris Sandow
signing for the Parramatta Eels
for 2012. Also, due to the injury of Rabbitohs captain Roy Asotasi
, Inglis became front-runner to assume captaincy of the club, but the job was given to Michael Crocker
.
Inglis was selected for the 2011 ANZAC Test, despite his inconsistent form. He was injured in the opening 10 minutes of the game with a hip injury. Australia went on to win 20–10. The injury, however, proved more serious than first thought, and consequently Inglis was ruled out of Game One of the 2011 State of Origin series
. He made his return to take on his former club, the Melbourne Storm
, in a 16–6 loss. He returned to the Maroons
side in a Game II
loss to NSW. After some unfamiliar poor form by Inglis in Origin Game II, Inglis scored the first try in a double in the Game III decider victory. The double allowed Inglis to equal the Queensland try-scoring record held by Dale Shearer
. Following the Maroons' sixth consecutive series victory, Inglis found form for the Rabbitohs, scoring five tries in his final six games of the season. An ankle injury against the Brisbane Broncos
saw Inglis miss the final game of the season. With a place in the top eight up for grabs, the Rabbitohs lost to Newcastle Knights, 24-40, causing the Rabbitohs to finish tenth.
His injury continued to haunt him, ruling him out of Darren Lockyer's
final Test on home soil. However, Inglis was ruled eligible to play in the upcoming Four Nations
.
. Inglis was injured and ruled out of the game. He acted as a peacemaker during the incident. The second, he reacted verbally to a man who insulted his girlfriend.
On 10 August 2009, Inglis was charged with recklessly causing injury and the unlawful assault of his girlfriend Sally Robinson the previous day, and was indefinitely suspended from playing with the Melbourne Storm. Inglis was cleared to return to play with the Melbourne Storm by the club's board and the NRL
on 27 August.
Inglis pleaded not guilty to the charges, with the case adjourned for a contest hearing on 12 April 2010.
The affair ended in April 2010 when Inglis avoided an assault conviction, accepting a diversion order.
He was also one of four Melbourne Storm players (the others being Cameron Smith
, Cooper Cronk
and Billy Slater
) who were said to be involved in the club's salary cap rorting which saw them stripped of their two premierships and three minor premierships. Despite this, Inglis will still be recognised as the Clive Churchill Medal
list in 2007 (the first of two titles the Storm have been stripped of), as will Billy Slater
for 2009.
On Friday, 11 June 2010, Timana Tahu
walked out of the New South Wales Origin camp, which was cited as "personal reasons". On 12 June, however, it was revealed that Tahu walked because of racial comments made by NSW Assistant Coach Andrew Johns
. It was later revealed the comments were directed at Inglis, as Johns was talking about him with NSW debutant Beau Scott
, who faced off with Inglis in Game II. On 13 June, Tahu revealed that Inglis was not the only target of the racial comments. On 24 June, Inglis said that Johns should be banned from any further involvement in the game of rugby league. In July 2010, Inglis reportedly accepted an apology from Johns.
In August 2010, after the Storm agreed to release Inglis after the 2010 NRL Season, Inglis announced he will join the Brisbane Broncos
. By October 2010, no contract with the Broncos had been signed, due to the Storm refusing to release Inglis, who owed the club $113,000 worth of legal fees. On 2 November, Inglis assured Broncos CEO Bruno Cullen he will play for the Broncos in 2011, and repeated the same act on 5 November. By 6 November, the Broncos had pulled out of signing Inglis after he failed to sign with the club within a 24-hour deadline. Inglis's inability to sign with the Broncos has been criticised by Cullen, who claims Inglis "betrayed" the Broncos. On 12 November, Inglis signed with the South Sydney Rabbitohs
.
Melbourne Storm
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
and Australian international representative outside back, Inglis joined the Rabbitohs in 2011 after much controversy.
Inglis is a versatile back, having played in several positions during his career. He originally played on the wing or in the centres. He even played at fullback when Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
was unavailable. Between 2007 and early 2009 he played at five-eighth for the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
before he switched to centre when Brett Finch
Brett Finch
Brett Finch is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of the Super League...
arrived at the Storm, where he played for the remainder of his time at the club until the end of 2010
2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium...
. Inglis' representative matches for Queensland and Australia have been as a winger or centre.
In November 2009, Inglis won the highly coveted Golden Boot Award as the world's best player – presented to him by Rugby League World
Rugby League World
Rugby League World is a dedicated rugby league magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. Other rugby league titles published by League Publications Ltd include the weekly newspaper Rugby Leaguer & League Express and the annual Gillette Rugby League Yearbook.-History:Rugby League World began...
magazine, becoming the third consecutive Storm player to win it, after Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
(2007) and Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
(2008).
His cousins are Albert Kelly
Albert Kelly
Albert Kelly is an Australian rugby league player for the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL competition. He was educated at Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown. He plays as a . His cousin is Greg Inglis of the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He previously played for the Parramatta Eels in the lower...
of the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
, Beau Champion
Beau Champion
Beau Champion is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League. His preferred playing position is at...
of the Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
and former player Preston Campbell
Preston Campbell
Preston Campbell, is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League...
.
Early years
Inglis began playing rugby league at a very young age with his cousin Michael Hohaia and O.j Pomare for the Bowraville Tigers in New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. At only 15 years old, after being seen playing at a junior carnival on the NSW North Coast. Inglis has played with many greatrs whilst growing up, such as Raynor Leuta, fullback for the Bowraville Tigers before moving to the NZ Warriors. Inglis signed his first professional contract with the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
but actually played his first senior game at 16 for Newcastle Hunter in New South Wales. While in Year 11 at Brisbane's Wavell State High School
Wavell State High School
Wavell State High School is a high school in Wavell Heights, Queensland, Australia, a suburb of Brisbane.Founded in 1959, it is named after the community where it is located, Wavell Heights. The suburb, in turn, is named after Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell , a World War...
, Inglis played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2004 and was already attracting media attention as an NRL star of the future. He played his first under 18s game for the Brisbane Wombats in 2004. Before the end of the 2004 season the Storm had added Inglis to their full-time playing roster for the following year.
2005: NRL debut
Inglis played for Melbourne during 2005's pre-season in a trial match against the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, scoring a try in the Storm's win. While playing for Brisbane's Norths Devils
Norths Devils
The Northern Suburbs Devils, Norths for short, are a rugby league club representing the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. The team colours are sky blue, navy blue and gold. They play in the Queensland Wizard Cup, and, through their predecessors, are one of the oldest clubs in...
in the 2005 Queensland Cup, Inglis scored 12 tries in five games and had already become the subject of a custody battle between Queensland and New South Wales over which state he would play State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
for. He scored 194 points for the Norths Devils
Norths Devils
The Northern Suburbs Devils, Norths for short, are a rugby league club representing the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. The team colours are sky blue, navy blue and gold. They play in the Queensland Wizard Cup, and, through their predecessors, are one of the oldest clubs in...
in the Queensland Cup
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
. Inglis made his NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
Premiership debut at eighteen years of age as a replacement to injured winger Jake Webster
Jake Webster
Jake Webster is a New Zealand National rugby league player. He plays the position of Centre and Wing for Hull Kingston Rovers Rugby League Club.-Australia:...
in Melbourne's
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
match against the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
, scoring a try in a 14–26 loss.
Inglis would go on to play a month later at fullback, against the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
, scoring another try. He played at fullback when Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
was on Origin duty, or at wing or the bench as he slowly solidified himself in the Storm side. At the 2005 Dally M Awards
2005 Dally M Awards
The 2005 Dally M Awards were presented on Tuesday 6 September 2005 at the Sydney Town Hall in Sydney and broadcast on Fox Sports. Warren Smith presided as Master of Ceremonies.-Dally M Player of the Year:Dally M Player of the Year...
Inglis was nominated for the Rookie of the Year, but lost to Parramatta's Tim Smith.
The Storm went on to reach the finals that season and in a playoff match against Brisbane, Inglis got his first experience in finals football. With the game still in the balance, Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
was helped from the field with an ankle injury and Inglis replaced him. After being on the field for five minutes, he crossed the Broncos' line untouched to score the match-winning try.
Unfortunately for the Storm, they lost in the Semi-Finals to the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
16–24, ending their season.
2006: Breakthrough season
Season 2006 saw Inglis continue to play primarily in the fullback role as his counterpart Billy Slater was suspended after he began the season at centre. He was chosen as goalkicker for the Storm after the departure of Matt OrfordMatt Orford
Matthew Orford is an Australian professional rugby league player, last playing for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League competition...
, but the role was given to Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
after Inglis kicked just 1 from 5 against the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
. After scoring 9 tries in 9 games, he was selected in the starting line up in the Queensland State of Origin team
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
.
His selection in the Queensland squad (along with teammate Israel Folau
Israel Folau
Israel Folau is a professional Australian rules footballer currently listed with the Greater Western Sydney Football Club in the Australian Football League . He previously played Rugby league for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League from 2007 to 2008 where he broke the record for most...
) caused some controversy. Inglis was born and raised in Bowraville, New South Wales
Bowraville, New South Wales
Bowraville is a small town in the Mid North Coast hinterland of New South Wales, Australia in Nambucca Shire.The town invites some tourists with such things as a folk museum, a war museum, a historic theatre, and other historic features. It also invites new residents with its scenic beauty and...
, and played his first senior football in NSW (in the Arrive Alive Cup). League statistician David Middleton believed that Inglis should be playing for NSW. The matter was resolved when the ARL gave Inglis the green light to play for Queensland, because it ruled that his first senior football was at Wavell High. However, later investigations revealed that Inglis played his first senior game for Newcastle's Hunter Sports High School at the age of 16, and is therefore technically not eligible to play for Queensland.
However, Inglis went on to begin his State of Origin career with the Maroons. A few early errors were soon forgotten when Inglis scored two tries and saved one. Unfortunately for Inglis, this was not enough for Queensland to win the match.
In the game after his brilliant Origin debut, Inglis suffered a back injury against the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
. This injury kept him out for two months, effectively making him miss the rest of the Origin series. It was around this time that Inglis signed for the Storm for a further four seasons, keeping him at the club until 2010. The deal was worth about $2 million, making him the richest teenager in Rugby League. On return, Inglis returned to the centre position and was an important factor in the Storm winning the 2006 Minor Premiership
Minor premiership
A minor premiership is the name of the title given to the team which finishes a sporting competition first in the league standings after the regular season but prior to commencement of the playoffs....
. The Storm cruised through the finals, beating the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
12–6, and the St. George Illawarra Dragons 24–10, and eventually met the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
in the 2006 NRL Grand Final, which was won by the Broncos, 15–8. Inglis finished the season with 18 tries and 2 goals, an effort which earned him selection in the Australian
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
team for the 2006 Tri-Nations series
2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations
The 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations was hosted for the second time by Australia and New Zealand. Sponsored by Gillette the tournament followed the same format as in 2004 and 2005, with each team meeting the other two teams twice, and the top two teams at the end of the group stages proceeding to the...
.
Inglis scored four tries in his opening three tests against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
and England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
and featured in the Final win over New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
, 16–12.
2007: Move to five-eighth and Premiership success
In 2007, Inglis was switched primarily to five-eighth; his form at five-eighth was often criticized. In the opening month of the 2007 NRL Season, Inglis failed to score a try. He sustained a knee injury against the Newcastle KnightsNewcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
which kept him out of the 2007 ANZAC Test
ANZAC Test
The Anzac Test is an annual rugby league football test match . The test match is played annually between Australia and New Zealand on or around Anzac Day for the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.-Origins:Australia and New Zealand had competed in Rugby League Tests since 1908...
. Despite not scoring at five-eighth, Inglis was selected for the Queensland State of Origin team
Queensland State of Origin Team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
for the 2007 State of Origin series, playing on the wing. In Game I, he scored 2 tries in Queensland's 25–18 come-from-behind victory.
Inglis finally scored his first try of 2007 in Round 12, against the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
. He was again selected to play on the wing for his state, and scored in Queensland's 10–6 win, which gave Queensland their second consecutive Origin series victory. Despite scoring 3 tries in 2 games on the wing for QLD, Storm coach Craig Bellamy kept pursuing Inglis as a five-eighth. Inglis scored his first double for the NRL Season against the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. In Game III of the Origin series, Inglis injured a ligament in his knee after just 22 minutes, and as a result missed 2 weeks of action. QLD ultimately lost the game, 18–4, but had already wrapped up the series.
Following his return, Inglis and the Storm focused on the finals. The Storm suffered their third loss of 2007 in Round 20 against a Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler
Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales...
coached Sydney Roosters side. Following this, the Storm remained undefeated for the rest of the season, winning their second consecutive Minor Premiership
Minor premiership
A minor premiership is the name of the title given to the team which finishes a sporting competition first in the league standings after the regular season but prior to commencement of the playoffs....
.
In the finals, the Storm got redemption from the heartbreaking 2006 loss after beating the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
40–0 in the Qualifying Final, eliminating them from the competition for 2007. They defeated the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
26–10 in what turned out to be Timana Tahu's
Timana Tahu
Timana James Aporo Tahu is an Australian professional rugby league footballer and former rugby union player, a dual-code international, currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. He formerly played for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super 14 competition...
last game before switching to Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. In the 2007 NRL Grand Final
2007 NRL grand final
The 2007 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive, premiership-deciding match of the 2007 NRL season. Played between the first-placed Melbourne Storm and second-placed Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Telstra Stadium on September 30, in front of 81,392 spectators. It was the fourth NRL Grand Final played...
, the Storm faced off against the Manly Sea Eagles, who finished second. After a 10–4 lead at halftime and an untimely injury to Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring...
, the Storm blew Manly off the park, winning 34–8. Inglis scored two tries and as a result was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal
Clive Churchill Medal
The Clive Churchill Medal has been presented to the man-of-the-match of the National Rugby League's annual Grand Final match ever since the 1986 season. The award was created to honour Clive Churchill, one of the greatest rugby league players in Australian history, following his death in 1985...
.
Inglis also played in the one-off test at the end of the year. Inglis scored a hat-trick in Australia's record breaking 58–0 thrashing of New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
.
Later that year, Inglis was selected as a Centre in the Storm's "team of the decade" to celebrate their ten year anniversary.
2008: Third Grand Final and representative success
Inglis had shoulder surgery in the 2007–2008 off-season, and consequently missed the opening 2 rounds of the 2008 NRL Season. He returned in the Round 3 clash with the Sydney RoostersSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, which the Storm lost 10–6, giving them their first consecutive losses since Round 3 and 4 of the 2006 NRL Season (they lost to the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
the previous week). Over the next month, Inglis featured the Storm's wins over Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, Grand Final opponents Manly Sea Eagles, Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
and North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
.
Inglis was selected in the Australian team
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
for the historical Centenary Test
Centenary Test
Centenary Test refers to two matches of Test cricket played between the English cricket team and the Australian cricket team, the first in 1977 and the second in 1980. These matches were played to mark the 100th anniversaries of the first Test cricket matches played in Australia and in England ...
against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
. Inglis provided a historical moment, by amazingly hitting the ball into the field of play to provide Mark Gasnier
Mark Gasnier
Mark Gasnier is an Australian former rugby league player, a state and national representative centre three-quarter. He played eleven top-grade seasons with the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL, interrupted by two seasons of rugby union played with the French club Stade Français. He was a...
with a try. Australia won 28–12. Inglis was selected to play for Queensland
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
for the 2008 State of Origin series in the centres. He was in Queensland's Game I loss to New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
, 18–10. In Game II, he had a brilliant performance, setting up two tries for Darius Boyd
Darius Boyd
Darius Boyd is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL. Boyd plays at fullback, however he is also very capable as a three-quarter back, as proven by his selection for Australia and Queensland as a winger...
as QLD won 30–0.
Around this time, Sonny Bill Williams
Sonny Bill Williams
Sonny William 'Sonny Bill' Williams is a New Zealand rugby union player and former rugby league player. He is only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the country in rugby league. In rugby union he usually plays as a centre...
walked out of the Bulldogs and joined French Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
side RC Toulonnais
RC Toulonnais
RC Toulonnais is a French professional rugby union club based in Toulon in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, despite being contracted with the Dogs until 2012. This move was believed to be instigated by Khoder Nassar, who is also the manager of former 3-time World Champion boxer Anthony Mundine
Anthony Mundine
Anthony Mundine is an Australian professional boxer and former rugby league footballer.He is the current interim WBA Light Middleweight Champion boxer, former two-time WBA Super Middleweight Champion, former IBO Middleweight Champion and New South Wales State of Origin representative footballer....
, who walked out of the St. George Illawarra Dragons in 2000. Inglis, who is family friends with both Mundine and Nassar, was rumoured to be on the verge of walking out of the Storm and joining Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
side the Western Force
Western Force
Western Force is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super Rugby competition. They first competed in the 2006 season and finished with the wooden spoon in that year, however their performances greatly improved in 2007. In 2008 they finished in 8th...
, despite being contracted until 2010. However, Inglis stayed loyal to the Storm and extended his contract until 2012.
In a match against the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, Inglis scored his first hat-trick since Round 5, 2006, as the Storm won 48–20. In Game III of the Origin series, QLD won 16–10, getting their third consecutive series win. Despite having a solid series, Inglis failed to score during the Origin campaign. In the final 7 games of season, Inglis scored 11 tries as the Storm won their third consecutive Minor Premiership
Minor premiership
A minor premiership is the name of the title given to the team which finishes a sporting competition first in the league standings after the regular season but prior to commencement of the playoffs....
. At the 2008 Dally M Awards, Inglis was named Five-Eighth of the Year and Representative Player of the Year, as well as winning the Headline Moment of the Year for his brilliant assist to Mark Gasnier
Mark Gasnier
Mark Gasnier is an Australian former rugby league player, a state and national representative centre three-quarter. He played eleven top-grade seasons with the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL, interrupted by two seasons of rugby union played with the French club Stade Français. He was a...
in the 2008 Centenary Test.
In the finals, the Storm lost 15–18 to the 8th place New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
, becoming the first 1st placed team to lose an 8th place team. In the Semi-Finals, the Storm faced the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
. In a brilliant match, Inglis scored with 56 seconds remaining to give the Storm a 16–14 victory. The Storm easily beat the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
, 28–0, to qualify to another Grand Final. However, they lost in a record breaking 40–0 clash with the Manly Sea Eagles, failing to retain their Premiership.
In August 2008, Inglis was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
.
Inglis was confirmed in the final 24-man Australia squad to compete in the World Cup at the end of the 2008 season. He scored in Australia's 30–6 win over New Zealand, and a hat-trick in their 52–4 win over England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
. He also scored in the Semi-Final win over Fiji, before Australia surprisingly lost the Final, 34–20, against New Zealand. Inglis scored 6 tries in 4 games for the tournament, and scored in every match he played for the tournament.
2009: Dual Premiership success and Golden Boot Award
At the start of the 2009 season Inglis attracted a lot of attention due to how much weight he'd gained since the previous season, having bulked from 99 kg up to 110 kg, making him one of the biggest players in the game. He scored the first try of the season for 2009 against St George Illawarra as well as being one of the best on ground. He scored the match winning field goal to win the game for the Storm, 17–16. In doing so, he had not only ruined Wayne Bennett's last game in charge of the Brisbane BroncosBrisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
but also his first game coaching the St George Illawarra Dragons
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
, by scoring the match winning point.
The Storm had a shaky start to the season, going by a win-loss pattern until Round 7, which they drew with the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
. They extracted Grand Final revenge on Premiers Manly, with Inglis scoring. During this time, Storm coach Craig Bellamy experimented by putting Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
at five-eighth, Inglis back in the centres and Ryan Hinchcliffe
Ryan Hinchcliffe
Ryan Hinchcliffe is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL. Hinchliffe began his NRL career at Parramatta. He previously played for the Canberra Raiders before moving to the Storm, with whom he won the 2009 NRL Premiership.Ryan Hinchcliffe is a hooker...
at hooker. However, after Brett Finch
Brett Finch
Brett Finch is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of the Super League...
was released by the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
, the Storm signed him and made him their first choice five-eighth, putting Inglis back at his preferred centres position.
He was selected for Australia in the one-off test match against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
on 8 May 2009. This selected was unique, as Inglis was part of an all-Queensland backline, including Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
, Darius Boyd
Darius Boyd
Darius Boyd is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL. Boyd plays at fullback, however he is also very capable as a three-quarter back, as proven by his selection for Australia and Queensland as a winger...
, Justin Hodges
Justin Hodges
Justin Hodges is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League...
, Israel Folau
Israel Folau
Israel Folau is a professional Australian rules footballer currently listed with the Greater Western Sydney Football Club in the Australian Football League . He previously played Rugby league for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League from 2007 to 2008 where he broke the record for most...
, Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011...
and Johnathan Thurston
Johnathan Thurston
Johnathan Dean Thurston is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer in the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys whom he co-captains...
. This feat had not been achieved since 1924. Australia won 38–10, with the superstar backline scoring all the points, proving Queensland's recent dominance.
In April 2009, he was named in the preliminary 25-man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
match for 2009, and was subsequently picked at centre for the opening State of Origin match. In Game I, Inglis scored 2 tries, as Queensland won 28–18. Meanwhile, the Storm maintained their position in the Top 4 of the NRL competition.
In Game II, Inglis scored again as Queensland recorded a 24–14 win over New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
, becoming the first team to win 4 consecutive Origin series. In Game II, Inglis was taken off the field in the first half after receiving a punch to the face from Trent Barrett
Trent Barrett
Trent Barrett is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
, but still played against the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
that weekend in which he scored.
In Game III, New South Wales won 28–16, in a game that featured a memorable brawl in the 79th minute. Inglis received the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series that year in recognition of his efforts during the 2009 State of Origin
2009 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 2009 State of Origin series was the 28th time that the annual three-match series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules...
.
After Karmichael Hunt
Karmichael Hunt
Karmichael Neil Matthew Hunt is an Australian professional multi-code football player, currently playing Australian rules football for the newly formed Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League ....
shockingly signed with the new AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
club the Gold Coast, Inglis revealed he wouldn't mind "having a crack" at AFL. This created concern that Inglis may make a switch, but Inglis made it clear on the Footy Show that he will fulfill his contract with the Melbourne Storm. Inglis was arrested at his home in August for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. The Storm suspended Inglis indefinitely until he was cleared.
After his court hearing was postponed to October, Inglis made his comeback against the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, scoring a double in the Storm's final game at Olympic Park
Olympic Park
An Olympic Park is a sports campus for hosting the Olympic Games. Typically it contains the Olympic Stadium and the International Broadcast Centre. It may also contain the Olympic Village or some of the other sports venues, such as the aquatics complex in the case of the summer games, or the main...
. Inglis also scored in the Storm's 30–0 win over the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
as they finished 4th for the season. At the 2009 Dally M Awards
2009 Dally M Awards
The 2009 Dally M Awards were presented on Tuesday 8 September 2009 at the State Theatre in Sydney and broadcast on Fox Sports.-Dally M Medal-Player of the Year:Dally M Player of the Year-Player votes tally :-Dally M Awards:...
Inglis was named centre of the year and representative player of the year.
In the finals, the Storm comfortably defeated Premiers Manly 40–12, before defeating the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
40–10, in which Inglis scored a hat-trick. The Storm qualified for their fourth consecutive Grand Final, against the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
. Ironically, the Eels were the last team to make it to four consecutive Grand Finals in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984.
In the 2009 NRL Grand Final
2009 NRL Grand Final
The 2009 NRL Grand Final was a rugby league football game played on 4 October 2009 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney. It was the 12th annual championship game of the National Rugby League staged to decide the premiers of the 2009 NRL season....
against the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
, Inglis scored a try from a Cooper Cronk
Cooper Cronk
Cooper Patrick Cronk is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL...
bomb and kicked a final field goal in the Storm's 23–16 win. From this victory, Inglis become a dual-premiership player as the Storm capped off their dominance by winning their second premiership in three years.
Post-season he travelled with the Kangaroos to Europe to play in the 2009 Four Nations tournament. He played in the 20 all draw with New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
, and scored in a 26–16 win over England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
. He also scored in the 46–16 Final win over England and was named player of the series in the Four nations final.
Inglis also claimed the Golden Boot Award for the best rugby league player in the world. In December 2009 Inglis won his state's major sporting award by being named "Sport Star of the Year" at the Queensland Sports Awards, becoming the first footballer of any code to win it.
2010: Salary cap drama
Although selected for the Indigenous All Stars side to face the NRL All Stars in the inaugural All Stars match on 13 February, Inglis was ruled out due to a hip injury. He recovered in time to play for the Storm in their victory over the Super League champions Leeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in the 2010 World Club Challenge
2010 World Club Challenge
-Teams:-Match details:-First half:Leeds almost scored early in the first half when Brent Webb ran over but he was held up by Luke MacDougall on the last tackle. Soon after they posted the first points with a penalty goal to captain Kevin Sinfield. Soon after Melbourne drew level with a penalty goal...
which the Storm won, 18–10. On 19 April 2010, against rivals the Manly Sea Eagles, Inglis injured his ankle but was later ruled to have not suffered a serious injury, continued his playing duties. The Storm subsequently lost 16–18, their first back to back losses of the season, and their last game before the salary cap drama unfolded.
It was revealed that the Storm had been breaching the salary cap since 2005, and were subsequently stripped of their NRL Premiership victories in 2007 and 2009. They were also stripped of their 2006, 2007 and 2008 Minor Premiership
Minor premiership
A minor premiership is the name of the title given to the team which finishes a sporting competition first in the league standings after the regular season but prior to commencement of the playoffs....
trophies. Finally, they were stripped of their accumulated premiership points that season and were barred from obtaining any competition points from the 2010 NRL Season
2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium...
, meaning they will inevitably get the wooden spoon, the first in the club's history. Inglis was still allowed to continue to be recognised as the Clive Churchill Medal
Clive Churchill Medal
The Clive Churchill Medal has been presented to the man-of-the-match of the National Rugby League's annual Grand Final match ever since the 1986 season. The award was created to honour Clive Churchill, one of the greatest rugby league players in Australian history, following his death in 1985...
list from the 2007 Grand Final.
In Round 10, Inglis scored a personal best 16 points, with 3 tries and 2 goals against the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
. In doing so, he brought his career try tally to 72 tries, overtaking Marcus Bai
Marcus Bai
Marcus Bai is a Papua New Guinean former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. Primarily a winger, he played his final season in 2006 for English Super League team Bradford Bulls. He is the only man to win the World Club Challenge with three different clubs...
to become the 3rd highest tryscorer for the Melbourne Storm, behind retired legend Matt Geyer
Matt Geyer
Matt Geyer is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup. A New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his club football primarily with the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League competition, winning premierships with them in 1999...
and current teammate Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
. In Game I of the 2010 State of Origin series
2010 State of Origin series
The 2010 State of Origin series was the 29th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules...
, Inglis scored a try in Queensland's 28–24 win as they look to achieve a 5th straight series win.
In the lead up to Origin II, Inglis was the subject of a racial comment made by NSW Assistant Coach Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns
Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
, which led to NSW winger Timana Tahu
Timana Tahu
Timana James Aporo Tahu is an Australian professional rugby league footballer and former rugby union player, a dual-code international, currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. He formerly played for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super 14 competition...
walk out of camp. This triggered Inglis to have a big Game II, scoring the opening try and engaging in a brawl with debutant Beau Scott
Beau Scott
Beau Scott is an Australian rugby league player for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL. His position of choice is at second row, however due to his versatility can also play in the centres....
. This 34–6 victory to Queensland gave them their record fifth straight series win. Inglis continued his strong week, scoring 10 points (1 try, 3 goals) in the Storm's 58–12 thrashing of the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. QLD achieved their first series whitewash since 1995, and the first of Origin since 2000, to cap off their fifth consecutive series win, winning a thrilling 23–18 encounter.
In the wake of the salary cap problems at the Storm, Inglis' future at the club after 2010 became uncertain. Many clubs from four football codes (rugby league, rugby union, American football and Australian rules) pursued him. Clubs included the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
, South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
, Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
, Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
and New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. On 10 August 2010, Inglis signed with the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
for the 2011
2011 NRL season
The 2011 NRL season was the 105th season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the fourteenth run by the National Rugby League. The NRL's main championship, called the 2011 Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra, was contested by sixteen teams for the...
and 2012 NRL seasons in a deal worth $1.2 million. The Broncos had released a key player in Israel Folau
Israel Folau
Israel Folau is a professional Australian rules footballer currently listed with the Greater Western Sydney Football Club in the Australian Football League . He previously played Rugby league for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League from 2007 to 2008 where he broke the record for most...
who joined AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
club GWS, which freed up the funds necessary to secure Inglis' services. Inglis' girlfriend Sally Robinson was living and working in Brisbane, a factor which is said to have helped Inglis make his decision to sign with the Broncos.
On 1 September 2010, the Broncos ordered Inglis to have a shoulder reconstruction in the 2010–2011 off-season. This caused Inglis to miss the end of year Four Nations
Rugby League Four Nations
The Rugby League Four Nations is an annual rugby league football tournament run in partnership between the Australian Rugby League, Rugby Football League and New Zealand Rugby League representing the top three nations in the sport: Australia, England and New Zealand. A fourth partner, France,...
. In his final game for the Storm, against the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, Inglis scored 2 tries as the Storm won 34–4. The win sent off several players who were leaving the club at the end of 2010 due to the salary cap drama.
Brisbane Broncos
On 24 October 2010, the Storm revealed that Inglis owes the Melbourne Storm $113,000 worth of legal fees following his 2009 assault charge. A week later, the South Sydney RabbitohsSouth Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
made an offer to Inglis. Inglis missed the Broncos first training session of the 2010–2011 pre-season on 1 November, citing bad weather in Sydney, where he was staying, as the reason. Two days later, future Broncos team-mate Justin Hodges
Justin Hodges
Justin Hodges is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League...
criticised the treatment of Inglis, saying Inglis is considering walking out of rugby league. On 5 November, the Broncos gave Inglis a 24-hour deadline to sign with the club. On 6 November, after Inglis failed to reach Brisbane, the Broncos pulled out of signing Inglis, leaving him without a club for 2011 and beyond. Inglis also received an offer from French rugby club Toulon
RC Toulonnais
RC Toulonnais is a French professional rugby union club based in Toulon in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, backing up Hodges' claim that Inglis may walk out of rugby league.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
On 8 November, it was revealed Inglis would most likely sign with the Rabbitohs. Influences for Inglis's shock move to RedfernRedfern
Redfern may refer to:* Redfern, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney* Redfern , people with the surname Redfern* Redfern Froggatt, British footballer* Redfern , a Parisian couture house-See also:...
included Rabbitohs owner Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
, Inglis's close friend Anthony Mundine
Anthony Mundine
Anthony Mundine is an Australian professional boxer and former rugby league footballer.He is the current interim WBA Light Middleweight Champion boxer, former two-time WBA Super Middleweight Champion, former IBO Middleweight Champion and New South Wales State of Origin representative footballer....
, Inglis's cousin Beau Champion
Beau Champion
Beau Champion is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League. His preferred playing position is at...
and billionaire Andrew Forrest
Andrew Forrest
Andrew Forrest also known by his nickname "Twiggy", is a Western Australian mining entrepreneur, former chief executive officer, non-executive chairman, and the major shareholder of Fortescue Metals Group...
. On 12 November, Inglis signed with the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
for the 2011
2011 NRL season
The 2011 NRL season was the 105th season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the fourteenth run by the National Rugby League. The NRL's main championship, called the 2011 Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra, was contested by sixteen teams for the...
, 2012 and 2013 NRL Seasons. The deal was worth $1.8 million. Inglis attended his first training session on 15 November. However, third-party deals totaling $200,000 had to be included within South Sydney's salary cap which placed the Rabbits over the NRL salary cap. The deal was not officially approved by the NRL, the Melbourne Storm or the NRL's auditor, Ian Schubert.
By 18 December, no deal had been solidified with the Rabbitohs, putting Inglis's NRL career into doubt. According to reports, Schubert refused to accept the contract signed with the Rabbitohs, leaving Inglis to consider leaving the NRL. Inglis soon met with AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
clubs St. Kilda and Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
On 24 December, it was officially announced that Inglis had signed the contract with the Rabbitohs for three seasons, ironically at the expense of cousin Beau Champion, who signed with Melbourne Storm for the same period of time.
2011: Debut season with Rabbitohs
Inglis was named in the Indigenous All-Stars side for the second annual NRL All-Stars game. However, his off-season surgery forced him to miss both the All-Stars game for the second consecutive year, as well as the annual Charity Shield game between Souths and reigning NRL Premiers St. George Illawarra Dragons. Inglis made his Rabbitohs debut on the opening night of the 2011 NRL Season scoring a try in a 29–40 loss to traditional rivals the Sydney RoostersSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
. Inglis picked up his first win as a member of the Rabbitohs in a 32–18 victory of the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
in Round 3.
The Rabbitohs struggled in the early stages of the season, registering just 3 victories in the opening 8 weeks. The Rabbitohs announced the signing of former Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
assistant coach Michael Maguire
Michael Maguire (rugby league)
Michael Maguire is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the head coach of the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Australia's National Rugby League . After serving as assistant coach of the Melbourne Storm under Craig Bellamy, in 2009 he became the head coach of...
, who Inglis knows very well, as their coach for 2012 and beyond, but the Rabbitohs had to deal with England international Sam Burgess
Sam Burgess
Sam Burgess is an English professional rugby league footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League...
being ruled out for the season, as well as the news of halfback Chris Sandow
Chris Sandow
Chris Sandow is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league player who previously played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League competition but from the 2012 NRL season, Sandow will play for the Parramatta Eels...
signing for the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
for 2012. Also, due to the injury of Rabbitohs captain Roy Asotasi
Roy Asotasi
Roy Asotasi is a professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League. A New Zealand international representative prop forward, he previously played for the Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 NRL Premiership...
, Inglis became front-runner to assume captaincy of the club, but the job was given to Michael Crocker
Michael Crocker
Michael Crocker is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the NRL...
.
Inglis was selected for the 2011 ANZAC Test, despite his inconsistent form. He was injured in the opening 10 minutes of the game with a hip injury. Australia went on to win 20–10. The injury, however, proved more serious than first thought, and consequently Inglis was ruled out of Game One of the 2011 State of Origin series
2011 State of Origin series
The 2011 State of Origin series was the 30th annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams contested under "State of Origin" selection rules. Game I was played in Brisbane, Game II was played in Sydney and...
. He made his return to take on his former club, the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
, in a 16–6 loss. He returned to the Maroons
Queensland State of Origin Team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
side in a Game II
2011 State of Origin series
The 2011 State of Origin series was the 30th annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams contested under "State of Origin" selection rules. Game I was played in Brisbane, Game II was played in Sydney and...
loss to NSW. After some unfamiliar poor form by Inglis in Origin Game II, Inglis scored the first try in a double in the Game III decider victory. The double allowed Inglis to equal the Queensland try-scoring record held by Dale Shearer
Dale Shearer
Dale Shearer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative winger/fullback of Aboriginal heritage, he played club football in Queensland, New South Wales and England...
. Following the Maroons' sixth consecutive series victory, Inglis found form for the Rabbitohs, scoring five tries in his final six games of the season. An ankle injury against the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
saw Inglis miss the final game of the season. With a place in the top eight up for grabs, the Rabbitohs lost to Newcastle Knights, 24-40, causing the Rabbitohs to finish tenth.
His injury continued to haunt him, ruling him out of Darren Lockyer's
Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011...
final Test on home soil. However, Inglis was ruled eligible to play in the upcoming Four Nations
Rugby League Four Nations
The Rugby League Four Nations is an annual rugby league football tournament run in partnership between the Australian Rugby League, Rugby Football League and New Zealand Rugby League representing the top three nations in the sport: Australia, England and New Zealand. A fourth partner, France,...
.
Controversy
In early 2008, Inglis was involved in two separate night club incidents. The first occurred during the Storm's preparations for the 2008 World Club Challenge2008 World Club Challenge
The 2008 Carnegie World Club Challenge was contested between Super League XII champions, the Leeds Rhinos and National Rugby League season 2007 premiers, the Melbourne Storm. For the fifth consecutive year the English home team defeated their Australian counterparts.-Leeds Rhinos:Leeds Rhinos...
. Inglis was injured and ruled out of the game. He acted as a peacemaker during the incident. The second, he reacted verbally to a man who insulted his girlfriend.
On 10 August 2009, Inglis was charged with recklessly causing injury and the unlawful assault of his girlfriend Sally Robinson the previous day, and was indefinitely suspended from playing with the Melbourne Storm. Inglis was cleared to return to play with the Melbourne Storm by the club's board and the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
on 27 August.
Inglis pleaded not guilty to the charges, with the case adjourned for a contest hearing on 12 April 2010.
The affair ended in April 2010 when Inglis avoided an assault conviction, accepting a diversion order.
He was also one of four Melbourne Storm players (the others being Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
, Cooper Cronk
Cooper Cronk
Cooper Patrick Cronk is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL...
and Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
) who were said to be involved in the club's salary cap rorting which saw them stripped of their two premierships and three minor premierships. Despite this, Inglis will still be recognised as the Clive Churchill Medal
Clive Churchill Medal
The Clive Churchill Medal has been presented to the man-of-the-match of the National Rugby League's annual Grand Final match ever since the 1986 season. The award was created to honour Clive Churchill, one of the greatest rugby league players in Australian history, following his death in 1985...
list in 2007 (the first of two titles the Storm have been stripped of), as will Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
for 2009.
On Friday, 11 June 2010, Timana Tahu
Timana Tahu
Timana James Aporo Tahu is an Australian professional rugby league footballer and former rugby union player, a dual-code international, currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. He formerly played for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super 14 competition...
walked out of the New South Wales Origin camp, which was cited as "personal reasons". On 12 June, however, it was revealed that Tahu walked because of racial comments made by NSW Assistant Coach Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns
Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
. It was later revealed the comments were directed at Inglis, as Johns was talking about him with NSW debutant Beau Scott
Beau Scott
Beau Scott is an Australian rugby league player for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL. His position of choice is at second row, however due to his versatility can also play in the centres....
, who faced off with Inglis in Game II. On 13 June, Tahu revealed that Inglis was not the only target of the racial comments. On 24 June, Inglis said that Johns should be banned from any further involvement in the game of rugby league. In July 2010, Inglis reportedly accepted an apology from Johns.
In August 2010, after the Storm agreed to release Inglis after the 2010 NRL Season, Inglis announced he will join the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
. By October 2010, no contract with the Broncos had been signed, due to the Storm refusing to release Inglis, who owed the club $113,000 worth of legal fees. On 2 November, Inglis assured Broncos CEO Bruno Cullen he will play for the Broncos in 2011, and repeated the same act on 5 November. By 6 November, the Broncos had pulled out of signing Inglis after he failed to sign with the club within a 24-hour deadline. Inglis's inability to sign with the Broncos has been criticised by Cullen, who claims Inglis "betrayed" the Broncos. On 12 November, Inglis signed with the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
.
Personal life
In October 2005, Inglis began a relationship with Sally Robinson. The couple split in December 2008, and Inglis began a publicised relationship with notorious cougar Charmyne Pavali. The affair ended later that month. Inglis and Robinson reunited in March 2009. In August 2009, Inglis was arrested for causing reckless assault towards Robinson. Robinson moved back to Brisbane. Inglis and Robinson reunited a second time in October 2009, amidst Inglis's assault charges. In April 2010, the case ended with Inglis accepting a diversion order, avoiding an assault conviction. In June 2010, Inglis announced his engagement to Robinson. Inglis and Robinson married on 5 December 2010 at the Twin Waters Resort in Maroochydore.Melbourne Storm (2005–2010), South Sydney Rabbitohs (2011–present)
| Season | Matches | Tries | Goals | F/G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 13 | 7 | – | – | 28 |
| 2006 | 19 | 18 | 2 | – | 76 |
| 2007 | 20 | 9 | – | – | 36 |
| 2008 | 22 | 17 | – | 1 | 70 |
| 2009 | 23 | 16 | – | 2 | 66 |
| 2010 | 20 | 11 | 7 | – | 58 |
| 2011 | 18 | 8 | – | – | 32 |
| Total | 135 | 86 | 9 | 3 | 365 |
Queensland
| Series | Matches | Tries | Goals | F/G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2007 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2008 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2010 2010 State of Origin series The 2010 State of Origin series was the 29th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules... |
3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2011 2011 State of Origin series The 2011 State of Origin series was the 30th annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams contested under "State of Origin" selection rules. Game I was played in Brisbane, Game II was played in Sydney and... |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Total | 15 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
Australia
| Year | Matches | Tries | Goals | F/G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2007 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2008 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| 2009 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 17 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
Honours
Individual- 2006 Rugby League International FederationRugby League International FederationThe Rugby League International Federation is the world governing body of rugby league football. It was formed in 1998 in Sydney, Australia. Its purpose is to, "foster, develop, extend, govern and administer the game of Rugby League throughout the world". Its headquarters are in Sydney, Australia,...
International Newcomer of the Year Award - 2007 Melbourne StormMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
Team of the Decade (Centre) - 2007 Clive Churchill MedalClive Churchill MedalThe Clive Churchill Medal has been presented to the man-of-the-match of the National Rugby League's annual Grand Final match ever since the 1986 season. The award was created to honour Clive Churchill, one of the greatest rugby league players in Australian history, following his death in 1985...
ist - 2008 Indigenous Team of the Century (Centre)
- 2008 Dally M Peter Frilingos Memorial Award for the headline moment of the year
- 2008 Dally M Five-eighth of the Year
- 2008 Dally M Representative Player of the Year
- 2009 Wally Lewis Medalist
- 2009 Dally M Representative Player of the Year
- 2009 Melbourne StormMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
Back of the Year Award - 2009 Rugby League Four NationsRugby League Four NationsThe Rugby League Four Nations is an annual rugby league football tournament run in partnership between the Australian Rugby League, Rugby Football League and New Zealand Rugby League representing the top three nations in the sport: Australia, England and New Zealand. A fourth partner, France,...
Player of the Tournament - 2009 Golden Boot AwardRugby League World Golden Boot AwardThe Rugby League World Golden Boot Award is a rugby league award handed out annually for achievements in rugby league by Rugby League World magazine...
Rugby League World International Player of the Year
Melbourne Storm
- 2006 Minor Premiers (stripped)
- 2006 Grand Final Runner-Up
- 2007 Minor Premiers (stripped)
- 2007 Premiers (stripped)
- 2008 Minor Premiers (stripped)
- 2008 Grand Final Runner-Up
- 2009 Premiers (stripped)