Inglis feeling Origin heat
Superstar Queensland centre Greg Inglis is feeling the State of Origin heat as he searches for the devastating form which made him the game's most feared player.
Inglis pulled the pin on his scheduled media commitment on Wednesday morning with Maroons management defending his unprecedented action, saying he "wanted to focus solely on the game which was his prerogative".
And Queensland plan to go into hiding over the weekend after cancelling all media arrangements and closing down training sessions.
The team was mobbed by fans at a promotional appearance on the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday with hundreds left disappointed when the players had to leave for training.
Earlier, Inglis and Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater had been listed to front the media at their Coolum resort but while Slater was being interviewed by TV crews, Inglis drove off in a golf cart.
Media manager Andrew Gee explained Inglis had not snubbed journalists but wanted to keep his focus on Wednesday night's game.
Inglis has been struggling to overcome off-season surgery to his shoulder and hip which delayed his start to the season.
While he's shown glimpses of the GI of old, he is yet to reproduce the form that strikes fear into his rivals.
Performance expert Dean Benton, who has years of experience working with high profile athletes, expressed concerns months ago that Inglis' surgery and injuries could hamper his 2011 season
Inglis, who was also evasive at Monday's team interview session, is under pressure to produce something special in one of the biggest Origin games in history.
However Slater, who knows Inglis' form and characteristics as well as anyone from their time at the Storm, liked what he saw of his former teammate in Perth last weekend.
"He was very physical against the Broncos and he's not far off his best," warned Slater.
"He's looking in great shape and his mood around the camp is really positive.
"GI is GI, you know what you're going to get with him and he won't be letting anyone down out there."
Slater, who steps out for Origin number 17, said he hadn't experienced a build up quite like this one.
The series will be on the line next Wednesday and there is immense emotion surrounding skipper Darren Lockyer's last game for Queensland.
"There's so many factors we have to consider ... obviously Locky has played so many great games for Queensland and we all want to put in an extra effort to do it for him," he said.
"But at the same time Queensland has been through a really tough period over the last six months, there's a lot of things we're playing for on Wednesday night."
Lockyer spoke to his players on Tuesday night to assure them he didn't want them thinking they had to win for him.
"We had a bit of meeting last night," said Slater who scored the game-winning try in Origin one off a Lockyer inside pass.
"Locky doesn't say too much but he acknowledged it's his last game.
"He just wants us to concentrate on our job, to turn up on Wednesday night in the best possible physical and mental shape we can to do a job for Queensland.
"Anyone who knows Locky, knows he's thinking about other people and getting the result for other people and making sure we all put in the performance we know we can."
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.