Greg Inglis

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Greg Inglis bigraphy, stories - Australian rugby league player

Greg Inglis : biography

15 January 1987 –

Greg Inglis (born 15 January 1987 in Kempsey, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the NRL. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative outside back, he previously played for the Melbourne Storm, with whom he won two grand finals, a Clive Churchill Medal and the Golden Boot Award; he is of Indigenous Aboriginal ethnic descent. 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 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 Gold Coast Titans, Beau Champion of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and former player, Dally M Player of the year and former Gold Coast Titans player Preston Campbell.

Controversy

Inglis’ selection for the Queensland State of Origin series team in 2006 created controversy. Hunter Sports High coach Steve Dunn claimed that Inglis playing for the school in the Arrive Alive Cup should make him eligible for NSW while Queensland Rugby League claim that either Wavell State High School or Brisbane Norths was Inglis’ first senior football.

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 Age. 14 October 2009.

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 Medallist 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 New South Wales 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.. NRL.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-20. On 12 November, Inglis signed with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.