Greg Inglis granted leave to deal with ongoing medical issues

South Sydney veterans Sam Burgess and John Sutton have thrown their support behind Greg Inglis after the Rabbitohs star was granted leave by the club to deal with ongoing medical issues.

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South Sydney veterans Sam Burgess and John Sutton have thrown their support behind Greg Inglis after the superstar was granted leave by the club to deal with ongoing medical issues.

Inglis will miss Saturday’s clash against the New Zealand Warriors on the Sunshine Coast with medical staff deciding he should take the week off training.

In January, Inglis confirmed he would retire at the end of season 2020 but this latest setback has only amplified rumours the Queensland Maroons greet could be forced to prematurely call time on his NRL career.

The superstar was struck down with food poisoning last week and was ruled out of the Rabbitohs 13-12 golden point loss against Manly.

Inglis is also currently battling a niggling shoulder complaint that is connected to the off-season neck surgery he had to fix a bulging disc.

Inglis has been given the time he needs to get right. Image: Phil Hillyard

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Last week new coach Wayne Bennett told the outside back he could not play as long as he needed pain killing injections to get through a game.

On Tuesday, forward Burgess only had one message about Inglis’ ‘situation’.

“I care about Greg, I want Greg to be OK, I want his body to be OK and outside of that not much else really matters,” Burgess said.

“There’s always going to be a lot of speculation about Greg Inglis because of who he is but outside of that, him being OK, I don’t have too many other thoughts that I want to share about it.”

Sam Burgess‘s only concern is Inglis’s welfare. Image: Matt King/Getty Images

Back rower John Sutton also agreed that Inglis’ health should be the number one priority but he backed the centre to get back on to the field this year amid speculation about his immediate playing future.

“He’s a bit crook this week as well and he’s got a couple of days off, he’s got a virus. He’ll be right. He had a bit of a shoulder injury too … but I think he should be getting over that soon,” Sutton said.

Sutton said he isn’t surprised the 32-year old’s ability to see out the remainder of his contract has turned into a talking point in recent weeks.

“We do that to nearly every older player … asking those questions about whether their body can hold up. I think the media likes to stir that stuff up too. Greg is all right, he’s got that virus and he’ll get over it and should be ready to go,” Sutton said.

Utility Kyle Turner was named at left centre in place of Jacob Gagan — who initially replaced Inglis in Bennett’s line-up last week. Gagan must complete all required concussion protocols before he can be cleared to play against the Warriors on Saturday. Forward Liam Knight, who is returning from a suspension, has been named on the bench.