Greg Inglis is ready to begin his new life after retiring from NRL

As rugby league says farewell to an icon, indigenous rugby league legend Laurie Daley has predicted newly retired Greg Inglis will “spend the rest of his life” mentoring and supporting Aboriginal kids.

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Indigenous rugby league legend Laurie Daley has predicted newly retired Greg Inglis will “spend the rest of his life” mentoring and supporting Aboriginal kids.

Inglis quit rugby league on Monday but will continue working with South Sydney in coaching, community, mentoring, ambassadorships and assisting indigenous youth.

“He is a leader in the community and is very well respected. He knows he can make a difference to indigenous kids and I’m sure he will spend the rest of his life championing the causes for indigenous youth and being able to set the right example,” said Daley.

“Greg will want young indigenous boys and girls to believe in dreams and to have a healthy future; knowing they can live out their dreams if they are prepared to work hard and make good choices.”

GI is ready for the next stage. Image: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Despite retiring from the NRL, Inglis will stay heavily involved in rugby league through the club’s charity arm, Souths Cares.

“Greg’s got the opportunity in the next 20 years to be one of the great indigenous leaders in this country — and one of the great NRL operators in the country. I don’t think we should under estimate what he has done in the past and what he will do in the future,” said Souths general manager of football, Shane Richardson.

The Souths legend is interested in working with kids. Image: John Appleyard

“He has been working with me over the last two years. He has sat in on retention meetings and understands our salary cap. He has been helping us with our recruitment as well and he will continue in those roles on a full-time basis.

“We have put a proper structure in place, a proper job description, proper KPI’s. It’s not a job for the boys. This will allow Greg to grow.

“He will also be involved with our welfare to make sure all of our players are taken care of. We are ramping up our welfare, getting involved with clinical psychologists This is not a sad day. It’s a day where one of the greats of the game gets heavily involved with the club.”

The next generation of indigenous stars have someone to look up to. Image: Mark Evans

Inglis will start his new role this week.

He described his shift into administration as the start of a “new chapter” in his life.

“I will get to work with the boys, the club and the board. I just want to enjoy life, be around Redfern and the club,” Inglis said. “I’m not going anywhere.

“It’s not the end. I get to move forward and work with the club, that’s the beauty of it. My journey is only starting now and I am going back into work.

“We have gone over a few things with my job description and what the plans are. It will be a split job; work with the football team when they are training and work on the other side with Souths Cares.”

South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly harbours enormous hopes for Inglis’ career away from rugby league.

“We are very excited with the impact Greg has and will continue to have off the field as an indigenous leader and mentor,” Solly said.

“Over the past 12 months, Greg has significantly increased his involvement with our community projects and through Souths Cares.”

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett added: “He has many things to offer and we are going to utilise those talents. He has a wonderful reputation in the game.”