Maroons star Greg Inglis should be given chance to show gifts

RARELY have we seen a player in such destructive form going into a State of Origin series as Greg Inglis this year.

Greg Inglis

RARELY have we seen a player in such destructive form going into a State of Origin series as Greg Inglis this year.

"GI", Origin's all-time leading tryscorer, is the most damaging player in the NRL at the moment.

So every touch he gets on Wednesday night enhances Queensland's chances of putting a winning score on the board.

I've long thought Inglis is the most gifted athlete to have played the game.

It was a question of whether he could apply himself. He has answered that question in the affirmative at South Sydney over the past two years.

Inglis had just seven touches as a centre in April's one-off Test. Even if he was credited with four linebreaks, it's not a satisfactory use of his potential to wreak havoc.

No NRL player has scored more than his 11 tries and he has run for 146 more metres than any other player.

There are ways to tweak it to get him more involved.

It comes down to what the coach and the team are most comfortable with.

When a mobile backrower such as Matt Gillett or Ben Te'o come on, they could defend in their normal position, but play left centre in attack. It would free "GI" up to roam as a left-sided fullback on some occasions, with Billy Slater on the right side.

Johnathan Thurston will want to be able to go to him with an early shift when we are bringing it out of our own end. New South Wales will be more aware of "GI" as a threat closer to their defensive end.

Last year I was advocating that "GI" be used on the wing in defence, so use him on the kick return - he might get another six or eight touches a game that way.

A few extra touches and extra contact early will make him feel like he is in the game.

It would be easier to pull off if Brent Tate was left winger, on the "GI" side of the field, as Tate is a great defender in the centres but he will play right side where he prefers.

As it stands, Josh Morris, the Canterbury twin, will mark him. He is a good defender, but the form the Queensland No.3 is in, I think he will be a little jumpy and could make incorrect decisions early.

There might be an opportunity for a shoulder ball from Thurston to Slater if Morris comes out of the line prematurely to shut down "GI", opening a gap outside Mitchell Pearce who will probably defend inside Morris.

Most of his games for Queensland have been from centre, but playing fullback weekly for Souths will mean "GI" will have to adapt different habits again.