NRL 2022: Greg Inglis on feeling ‘helpless’ as family faces flood disaster in Northern NSW

Former Souths Sydney superstar Greg Inglis has opened up on ‘sleepless’ nights waiting to hear news about his family members who have been devastated by the state’s flood disaster.

Former Rabbitohs player Greg Inglis joins the lap of honour for retiring players during the 2019 NRL Grand Final between the Canberra Raiders and the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Sunday, October 6, 2019. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

As the driving rain falls on Leichhardt Oval, former South Sydney superstar Greg Inglis can’t help but look at his watch and then his phone.

“They’re about to get flooded, probably in the next hour or two.” Inglis tells The Daily Telegraph.

Much of Inglis’ family, which still live across the NSW North Coast, have either already lost their homes in the devastating floods or spent the night desperately trying to save their properties from the deluge that has ravaged the region.

“I’ve been following the rain radar because I’m worried about it,” Inglis said.

“I just keep asking for updates. Especially from my family in Nambucca and Macksville”

“It was a sleepless night last night worrying about friends and loved ones in places like Ballina, Grafton and especially Lismore.

“I was just up there to see my family on Sunday on they are about to rain bombed.

“My friends and family have been desperately trying to get sandbags.

“I think that’s the hardest part, you see what is going on and you want to do something but you can’t. You feel helpless.”

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Greg Inglis reveals his family has been caught up in the Northern NSW floods disaster, with many losing homes or trying desperately to save them. Picture: AAP.

Kempsey in northern NSW, where Inglis was born and raised, is one of the 17 Local Government Areas officially declared disaster zones on Tuesday morning.

“It’s devastating, hearing that people have lost their lives. You can’t help but feel for their families,” Inglis said.

“Especially after the last the two years we’ve had with Covid, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Before that was the bush fires up there and there was even flooding the year before that.

“You can’t help but feel for the families that have lost homes and possessions. You can replace the homes but not the memories.”

Inglis wasn’t the only league legend at the KFC NRL SuperCoach launch yesterday that had family and friends on his mind.

Australian coach Mal Meninga said seeing images of parts of South East Queensland submerged under brown murky water evoked memories of the state’s deadly flood back in 2011 which killed 33 people.

“A have a couple of friends up on the Gold Coast and unfortunately the flood waters rose enough to get into their houses. It’s terrible times again. I was up there in 2011 when those floods hit and I remember how devastating it can be,” Meninga said.

Australian coach Mal Meninga says the flood crisis in Queensland brought back memories of the deadly 2011 floods. Picture: Getty Images.

“People have had to do through fires, Covid and the floods, there have even been cyclones, it has been a torrid time.

When Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium was inundated with flood water in 2011, the impact was felt for around 12 months.

Ground staff will be working overtime to ensure the venue and the playing surface is ready for round one’s clash between the Broncos and South Sydney.

“I remember it drained away, they fixed up the surface but we had temporary dressing rooms underneath the Stadium to get the season underway,” Meninga recalled.

“Let’s hope it’s not that bad this time.”