A giant of the modern era, Greg Inglis has been a frequent thorn in the Warriors’ side – but he’s also endured his share of heartache at the hands of the Auckland-based club. In the wake of ‘GI’s’ shock retirement, This Warriors Life charts the backline megastar’s battles against the Warriors over a 15-season career.
GREG INGLIS – CAREER RECORD v WARRIORS
Melbourne Storm (2005-10): 10 games (won 4, drew 1, lost 5) – 3 tries, 1 goal, 1 field goal (15 points)
South Sydney Rabbitohs (2011-18): 9 games (won 6, lost 3) – 2 tries (8 points)
TOTAL: 19 games (won 10, drew 1, lost 8) – 6 tries, 1 goal, 1 field goal (23 points)
Melbourne Storm phenom Inglis was just 18 when he first faced the Warriors in 2005, starting at fullback in a 24-16 upset loss at Mount Smart in just his fifth NRL appearance. He came off the bench in a 22-10 home win for the finals-bound Storm later that season.
A low-key introduction, perhaps – but the Warriors knew all about the teen sensation after the Round 1 clash with Melbourne in 2006, with Inglis scoring a blistering solo try from centre that showcased his speed, raw power and fend. The Storm got up 20-14.
Inglis was back at fullback when the Warriors visited Olympic Park in late-2006 and scored another try, but the Warriors snapped the eventual minor premiers’ 11-game winning streak in a memorable 26-22 boilover.
Playing five-eighth throughout 2007-08, Inglis was on the end of two losses to the Warriors in the latter campaign: an 8-6 defeat at Mount Smart and a famous last-gasp qualifying final win by the Warriors in Melbourne.
Inglis looked to have sealed a nail-biting victory with a deadlock-breaking field goal, but a long-range try finished off by Michael Witt saw the eighth-placed Warriors create history by downing the top-ranked Storm 18-15.
The Origin and Test superstar reverted to centre in 2009 as the eventual champs had a 14-all draw and a 30-0 win against the also-ran Warriors.
Inglis, still only 22, scored a trademark long-range try in the latter.
He missed the Storm’s 40-6 Anzac Day demolition of the Warriors in the days following revelations of the Storm’s salary cap breaches in 2010, while his last match in the purple jersey against the Kiwi outfit was a 13-6 loss in Auckland – Inglis’ fifth defeat in 10 encounters with the Warriors.
Two heavy losses followed in 2011 and ’12 after Inglis linked with South Sydney, but he was subsequently at the forefront of a lengthy Rabbitohs winning streak against the Warriors.
A 90-metre Inglis runaway – the 100th try of his career – helped Souths to a 24-22 victory in 2013.
‘GI’ was left worse for wear by a rampaging Konrad Hurrell as the Warriors stormed to a 13-6 lead in Perth in 2013.
But Inglis’ Bunnies rallied in the second half to prevail 30-13.
In 2016 – the same year he extended his record to 15 tries in 23 Tests for Australia against New Zealand – Inglis starred with a try in Souths’ 41-22 carve-up at Mt Smart.
Returning from a 12-month injury layoff in Round 1 of 2018, he was kept quiet in the Warriors’ resounding 32-20 win over the Rabbitohs in Perth.
But he starred in a 30-10 victory in Auckland mid-season, produced a brilliant try-assist and powering over for a four-pointer of his own.
For all Inglis’ Warriors-busting brilliance, his tryscoring strike-rate against the Warriors is his lowest against any club and his winning percentage versus the Warriors ranks as his third-worst against all clubs.
But his status as one of rugby league’s most freakish talents and all-time great players is assured. Inglis scored 149 tries in 263 NRL games, 18 tries in 32 Origin matches for Queensland, and 31 tries in 39 Tests for Australia.
Leave a Reply