I will be 100 per cent for Origin: Inglis
Nausea, butterflies, anxiety - Greg Inglis endured it all before the 2011 State of Origin series opener in Brisbane.
"I thought I was going to spew up ... that has been the most nervous I have been before a game," Inglis said on Tuesday.
Just imagine if he'd been playing.
The South Sydney centre admits he wasn't a good spectator when welcomed as a Maroons team guest for Queensland's 16-12 series opener in Brisbane.
But now officially back in the Queensland fold, the recalled Inglis insisted he had no reason to be anxious ahead of June 15's Origin II in Sydney.
Cynics may beg to differ.
Inglis has played just one NRL game since returning from a hip injury that struck him down in May's trans-Tasman Test.
Even Inglis had his doubts he would get the nod to replace the injured Willie Tonga after his NRL comeback against former club Melbourne last weekend.
To boot, South Sydney ordered Inglis to undergo scans on Monday after his knee became swollen following the loss to the Storm.
However, Inglis was his quietly confident self when officially unveiled in the Origin II side on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on Tuesday.
"I wasn't anxious at all (during the knee scans) - I knew there wasn't any damage," he told AAP.
"I just had a bump and it became swollen - it was precautionary.
"With another week's preparation I will be 100 per cent by Origin II - no doubt about that."
But there was a time Inglis had his doubts - and plenty of them.
Like before Origin I when he debated privately over whether he should risk aggravating his hip injury and put his hand up for the series opener.
"I had a say (whether to play Origin I) and at the end of the day I wasn't up to scratch," he said.
"I could have played but there was a chance I could do more damage to the hip and miss the rest of the season.
"After speaking with Mal (Meninga) I was twitching back and forth.
"I went home, had a think about it andcame to what I thought was the right decision."
There were even doubts after his last game for South Sydney.
"You are always hopeful of getting a call-up but I was just thinking after the game on Sunday whether I had done enough - but obviously I did," Inglis said.
But Inglis said he won't have to look too far for inspiration if any more doubts creep in.
Like the man he replaces, Tonga, who played most of game one with a major shoulder injury.
"It shows what pride in the jersey does, it's what it brings out in you - he showed amazing heart," he said.
Or the coach Meninga.
"He's one of those blokes you want to do everything you can for him - it's like when Wayne Bennett or Craig Bellamy walk into a room, you give them respect straight away.
"I thought I had a reasonably good game on the weekend - hopefully next Wednesday I can bring it all out."
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