The Rabbitohs are expected to hold a press conference on Monday amid mounting speculation Greg Inglis will call time on his decorated career.
Inglis has not played since the Rabbitohs' round-two win over the Dragons, as arthritis in his shoulder has left the Souths captain struggling to lift his arm above shoulder height.
Greg Inglis helped with Souths warm-up on Saturday as he weighed up his own future. Credit:AAP
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett sent his captain home to spend time with family and friends last week.
He has spent the week since deliberating as to whether he should push on and see out the final 18 months of his contract or retire.
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Inglis is expected to announce his decision on Monday and there was a growing expectation on Sunday that he would call time on his career.
If he does make that call, Inglis would hang up the boots as one of the game's all-time greats.
He has played 266 NRL games, formed a critical part of Queensland's golden State Origin era through 32 matches for his state and pulled on the green and gold jersey for the Kangaroos on 39 occasions.
Wherever Inglis has gone, success has followed. He was an integral part of the Storm's 2007 and 2009 premierships – which were later stripped due to salary cap rorting – and helped break Souths' 43-year premiership drought in 2014. He was just as integral in the eight straight Queensland Origin series wins.
On field success aside, Inglis' stature in the game has made him an Indigenous icon.
He was named in the inaugural Indigenous All Stars team before being ruled out with a hip injury and captained that team when Johnathan Thurston withdrew from the squad in 2016.
His famous goanna celebration will forever remain part of rugby league folklore, as will his incredible solo tries which became a regular part of his game during an extensive prime.
At his devastating best, few players have been as destructive with ball in hand.
Former Queensland and Australia teammate Darren Lockyer urged Inglis to make sure he had made peace with his decision on his future.
"Hes 32, I think mentally that is a big part of it," Lockyer said. "We all know when were ready to retire. I think physically he is struggling a bit. Only he would know what he is going to do."
Lockyer looked to former Broncos teammate Allan Langer as an example of a player who could no longer cope with the week-to-week grind that is life in the NRL.
"I always look back to when Alf [Alan Langer] retired in 1999 … physically he was OK but mentally he was done," Lockyer said. "I think he [Inglis] really needs to sit down and think this through."
Inglis has become increasingly frustrated with the limitations his body have placed on him as he nears the end of his career.
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Australian Breaking News Headlines
The Rabbitohs are expected to hold a press conference on Monday amid mounting speculation Greg Inglis will call time on his decorated career.
Inglis has not played since the Rabbitohs' round-two win over the Dragons, as arthritis in his shoulder has left the Souths captain struggling to lift his arm above shoulder height.
Greg Inglis helped with Souths warm-up on Saturday as he weighed up his own future. Credit:AAP
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett sent his captain home to spend time with family and friends last week.
He has spent the week since deliberating as to whether he should push on and see out the final 18 months of his contract or retire.
Advertisement
Inglis is expected to announce his decision on Monday and there was a growing expectation on Sunday that he would call time on his career.
If he does make that call, Inglis would hang up the boots as one of the game's all-time greats.
He has played 266 NRL games, formed a critical part of Queensland's golden State Origin era through 32 matches for his state and pulled on the green and gold jersey for the Kangaroos on 39 occasions.
Wherever Inglis has gone, success has followed. He was an integral part of the Storm's 2007 and 2009 premierships – which were later stripped due to salary cap rorting – and helped break Souths' 43-year premiership drought in 2014. He was just as integral in the eight straight Queensland Origin series wins.
On field success aside, Inglis' stature in the game has made him an Indigenous icon.
He was named in the inaugural Indigenous All Stars team before being ruled out with a hip injury and captained that team when Johnathan Thurston withdrew from the squad in 2016.
His famous goanna celebration will forever remain part of rugby league folklore, as will his incredible solo tries which became a regular part of his game during an extensive prime.
At his devastating best, few players have been as destructive with ball in hand.
Former Queensland and Australia teammate Darren Lockyer urged Inglis to make sure he had made peace with his decision on his future.
"Hes 32, I think mentally that is a big part of it," Lockyer said. "We all know when were ready to retire. I think physically he is struggling a bit. Only he would know what he is going to do."
Lockyer looked to former Broncos teammate Allan Langer as an example of a player who could no longer cope with the week-to-week grind that is life in the NRL.
"I always look back to when Alf [Alan Langer] retired in 1999 … physically he was OK but mentally he was done," Lockyer said. "I think he [Inglis] really needs to sit down and think this through."
Inglis has become increasingly frustrated with the limitations his body have placed on him as he nears the end of his career.
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