Greg Inglis could inspire like Arthur Beetson as Queensland captain
GREG Inglis is known for letting his actions speak rather than his words, much like the great Arthur Beetson. But if he’s to become Queensland captain he must open himself up writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.
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GREG Inglis is no Cameron Smith — but he might just be Arthur Beetson.
The more the prospect of Inglis becoming Queensland captain comes into view the more we are transported back in time to a moment when another giant indigenous player mesmerised his teammates through his very (imposing) presence when he captained Queensland in the first Origin match in 1980.
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Big Greg and Big Artie played different positions and were different cuts of men but undoubtedly there are strong similarities.
Neither was known for their Churchillian speeches but both cast an aura as powerful as any footballer of their generation, making heads turn simply by walking into a room.
“They led with actions not words,’’ said Beetson’s son Brad.
“He (Arthur) would have really enjoyed seeing GI captain Queensland and what it would have meant for indigenous people to have another role model. They both shared a passion for Queensland. Greg actually chose to play for Queensland
“I see another similarity in that they were both great athletes. Dad never got the credit he deserved for his athletic prowess but he was very fast for a big man. I was watching some of Greg’s long range tries the other day from earlier in his career and thinking what an athlete he has been.’’
When a young Wally Lewis first met Beetson he could not take his eyes off him.
Beetson had a broken jaw and was eating his meals through a straw and became so frustrated that by the end of the night he was almost throwing the food at his mouth.’
Beetson was injured and vulnerable yet Lewis was still starstruck.
“He gave the impression, with his slow, calm manner and contemplative voice, that the trivia of this world was barely worth considering,’’ Lewis wrote of Beetson in King Wally.
Inglis also has that slightly detached aura.
Like Beetson, Inglis remains something of an enigma.
His imposing body language is a shield behind which a man few truly know stays well hidden.
When the Queensland team has media days Inglis has been known to appear briefly before disappearing. When he is there the look on his face is like a man waiting to have a tooth out. It’s just not his thing.
You get the impression if he never saw his name in print again he would almost celebrate that fact.
If Inglis becomes captain he would certainly need to give more of himself which won’t be easy because he is, by nature, a private person.
When Inglis appeared on the Fox Sports show Queenslanders Only last year after a long break from public appearances I discussed with fellow panel member Mal Meninga what would be the best way to relax him early.
Rather than extend the warmest of welcomes we did the opposite and Mal opened the show by looking at me and saying “it looks like we will have to do the heavy lifting tonight because these two blokes (Inglis and his great mate Justin Hodges) still worry me.
“They used to hate training and say “Mal, it’s my knee’ and just walk off. And then they would try and get some wines into me after dark so I wouldn’t want to try and train the next day either.’’
Hodges started laughing, Inglis joined in and it was as if the stress of a turbulent year melted off his shoulders and away he went.
If Inglis gets the captaincy it will be interesting to see whether coach Kevin Walters invites Hodges into camp for they have a great bond and few people outside Inglis’ family know him as well as Hodges.
When it comes to debating issues with a referee, organising a team or producing a rousing team talk, Inglis may not have Smith’s polish or persuasiveness.
But if he simply embraced the job, stayed relaxed and finished his pre-match sermon with “come on boys follow me,’’ would wouldn’t want to follow him out the dressing room door?
THE GOOD: Batting bruiser Chris Lynn’s often injured shoulder has held up long enough for him to strike solid form for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and pocket his life-changing $1.8 million deal. He should be chosen for Australia in next year’s World Cup in England.
THE BAD: The fact that most of Queensland’s football teams would struggle to win a chook raffle at the moment. Hopefully there are better days ahead with the State of Origin but even that shapes as a tough one to win in what could be a modest year.
THE UGLY: Canterbury’s salary cap woes. The Dogs look kennel bound for three years due to horrendous back-ended contracts. You wonder whether former CEO Raelene Castle would have landed the head job at Australian Rugby if this had come out when she was in charge at the Bulldogs.
Originally published as Greg Inglis could inspire like Arthur Beetson as Queensland captain
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