Greg Inglis hat-trick leads South Sydney to victory over defending premiers Sydney Roosters

GREG Inglis has produced a three-try effort in South Sydney’s upset victory over the Roosters in the season opener.

Greg Inglis of the Rabbitohs celebrates scoring a try with team mates.

IT was a masterclass performance by arguably the No.1 player in the game.

Greg Inglis put on an irresistible show last night, scoring three tries as South Sydney crushed the defending premiers Sydney Roosters 28-8 at ANZ Stadium.

It was a four-tries-to-one rout which ended any cockiness that may have crept into the Roosters camp.

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News_Rich_Media: Sonny Bill Williams will come under scrutiny this week with the Match Review Committee for two seperate shoulder charges during the Roosters, Rabbitohs season opener. The Roosters star was also on the receiveing end of a shoulder charge by Ben Te'o.

Inglis scored one try in the first half and two in the second. He showed a mix of speed, power and raw strength.

Inglis somehow grounded the ball in the 22nd minute with three Roosters pushing and shoving him. He then ran a lovely line off Ben Te’o for his second try and then secured his hat-trick near fulltime.

“It’s a good start but in saying that it was the forwards who got us through the middle,’’ Inglis said.

News_Image_File: Luke Burgess of the Rabbitohs takes on the Roosters defence.

“It all paid off in the end. The trials are always low intensity until you get to round one.’’

Roosters skipper Anthony Minichiello has watched Inglis trample sides for years.

“You try and tackle up top and it’s so hard,’’ he said.

“Our tackling wasn’t up to scratch tonight and he found his way to the try-line. We learned a few lessons and will have to rectify it so it is better for next week.’’

News_Image_File: Mitchell Pearce of the Roosters runs with the ball.

Souths coach Michael Maguire was reluctant to single-out Inglis after the win.

“John Sutton, Issac Luke, even Joe Picker in his first game for the club,” he said.

“Lote Tuqiri put a lot of energy into the team. Greg did those special things off the back of the team which was pleasing.’’

If there was one disappointment, it was the crowd — a tick over 27,000 when officials were hoping for 40,000.

News_Image_File: Greg Inglis of the Rabbitohs celebrates his try.

But the match was noisy, fast, colourful and controversial in equal measures.

Rabbitohs forward Ben Te’o was placed on report for a shoulder charge on Sonny Bill Williams during the first half, who himself later was penalised for a shoulder charge in the second half.

The Sam Burgess-Sonny Bill battle was tough and physical. Burgess won the contest, only just.

“I thought he (Burgess) played very well,’’ said Maguire.

News_Image_File: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves of the Roosters is tackled.

“Sam is all about the team.’’

Another highlight was a superb try to Souths centre Bryson Goodwin, who took a Sutton bomb on the field to score late in the game.

Souths showed enough last night to predict big things for 2014.

News_Image_File: Greg Inglis of the Rabbitohs celebrates with team mates.

After bombing out in the finals for the past two years, no-one is game to say Souths can end their 43-year drought.

But that will be there deep into September.

The Roosters won’t worry too much. They were off the pace for the second half but their roster is all class.

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