Write off GI at your peril...

So, how’s everyone’s tipping going? We’ve had a magnificent start to the season with almost every game a 50-50 bet. One team not winning though is the South Sydney Rabbitohs and one guy attracting criticism, is their million dollar man Greg Inglis. I’m not one of those about to get stuck into GI.

The Inglis Hate

Moving to Sydney, on a huge contract, was always going to be tough for anyone. Inglis was hailed as the saviour South Sydney have been searching for – the missing x-factor in their Premiership aspirations. Anyone with his credentials, on his money, is going to come under the pump when his club is losing ... especially in the harsher Sydney media.

The facts are Inglis has been a bit below his best to start the season, but he’s not the reason the Bunnies have lost two from two. They’ve been in both games with a chance to win, only to be run down in the last 10 minutes. There’s nothing much a centre can do about that.

I’ve seen reports and blogs, mainly from Sydney, saying that Inglis needs to lift and get more involved or possibly shift to fullback or five-eighth. To me, none of that is the answer.

South Sydney’s woes

Inglis was always going to be a massive signing for whatever team landed him. It looked like the Broncos for a while and having him playing outside Darren Lockyer would have made them so dangerous and Inglis would not be getting any criticism.

However Inglis is playing outside two guys who are nowhere near the class of Lockyer, they’re not in the same postcode. They’re no Cooper Cronk or Cameron Smith from the Storm either. I like the Rabbitohs halves pairing of Sutton and Sandow. I love watching them, but that’s probably because I rarely have anything invested in them winning or losing a game.

For now, Inglis will best serve South Sydney out at left centre. He is coming back from injury remember – Inglis had no pre-season and played no trials. No one can be at their peak with that sort of build up. It’s up to the other players to produce a better 80 minute performance this week that allows Inglis to build into the game and help Souths win, rather than everyone look for their superstar to win the game on his own.

The form of a Champion

Let me also give you a brief rundown of how Inglis tends to operate, as evidenced the last couple of seasons. He starts the year off slowly, usually because of a disrupted pre-season. He might get a bit of flak, people saying he’s out of shape or unfit. Inglis will look a bit flat but ultimately get picked in the Australian side for ANZAC Test in May.

That’s where the fun begins!

Inglis will play his best game of the season, probably score a try or two and palm off a few New Zealanders. The giant is now awake.

Inglis will go back to his club and you will noticeably see his involvement and quality touches increase throughout the games. Queensland begins getting excited, the Blues start getting worried and BOOM – Inglis is in peak form ready to wreck havoc in the State of Origin series.

We’ve seen it before and that’s why I’m not writing off Inglis yet, Champions fight back.

TIPPING
Tips – Souths, Brisbane, Penrith, Canberra, Warriors, Roosters, Manly, Melbourne
Last Week – 3/8
Total – 6/16 (38%)

That’s all for another week, as always feel free to share your thoughts. I’m on email (andrew.keyte@gmail.com), Twitter (@keyto316) or directly below.

Cheers,
Keyto