Greg Inglis makes brief cameo in South Sydney’s 22-18 Charity Shield win over St George Illawarra in Mudgee
IT was only a brief, 20 minute cameo during the Rabbitohs 22-18 Charity Shield win over the Dragons — but South Sydney superstar Greg Inglis is back.
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GREG Inglis is back.
Matt Dufty, arrived.
And Mudgee ... well, it wakes on Sunday with nothing to do but count cash
While the 2018 Charity Shield, officially, went to South Sydney — and a returning ‘GI’ -- there was still undoubtedly positives for St George Illawarra, those who like following a Next Big Thing, even the enterprising bush footballers selling Mudgee Dragons stubby holders for eight bucks.
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And more on all that in a second.
For on a night when the Glenn Willow Sports Complex crowd record of 9133 was broken — by, err, one — still the biggest story was the guy in Bunnies jersey No. 22.
Gregory Paul Inglis.
Playing his first game in 359 days, the Rabbitohs left centre seemed free of any lingering hangover from that ACL injury suffered in last year’s season opener.
Despite staying on field for only a tick over 20 minutes — where he touched the ball just three times, including a fumble — the cameo is still huge for Bunnies players, fans and new coach Anthony Seibold.
Throughout the week, nobody seemed sure if Inglis would play.
But after drawing a huge cheer when his name was announced on the big screen — or, at least biggish screen — the Queensland favourite then got through his shift with two small runs and a dropped catch inside his own in-goal.
Which wasn’t much.
But still, a start.
Better, GI looks set to receive plenty of strong, early ball this year judging by the performance of No. 6 Cody Walker.
In an effort which looked at home on a bush footy ground — albeit one worth millions — Walker scored one try, broke the Dragons defences and seemed to forever have his hands on the Steeden.
Truly, he almost got through as much work as Mudgee’s bar staff would later that night, as a huge mob of visitors continued to pump the folding green stuff back into the economy.
And as for St George Illawarra?
Well, the highlights reel continues to grow for Dufty, the 22-year-old fullback who gets to defensive holes quicker than a public servant does the exit at 4.55pm.
Midway through the first half, the Hurstville flyer sliced up the Bunnies edge, getting himself around Souths halfback Adam Doueihi and over the white stripe.
In defence, the 22-year-old flyer also ran down Bunnies hooker, and former beach sprinter, Damien Cook.
And, no, he couldn’t save the try, with Cook passing back inside to Angus Crichton as he was being dragged down — and later dropped a bomb cold.
But still, he showed enough to suggest a YouTube video entitled: Matt Dufty, the Dragons Great Hope could be bang on.
Despite starting TAB favourites, St George Illawarra showed the stutterings of a side you would expect in February, with half its spine new to their roles.
Yet on a night they gave up two tries, both to the usually unflappable Jason Nightingale, they still only lost by four.
In the first half, Nightingale caught a Ben Hunt cross kick but had his hand on the sideline. And for the second, he was unable to ground the footy when diving for the corner.