Kyle Turner reveals he would be lost to league if not for Greg Inglis

South Sydney utility Kyle Turner has revealed he would be lost to rugby league if it wasn’t for recently retired NRL great Greg Inglis.

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South Sydney utility Kyle Turner has revealed he would have been lost to rugby league if it wasn’t for Greg Inglis.

Turner was homesick when he first arrived at the Rabbitohs in 2011 from the NSW country town of Coonabarabran.

Upset and uncertain of his future, he contemplated quitting the club because he battled with the step up in Souths’ NYC ranks.

Thankfully some inspirational words — and a pair of boots — from Inglis convinced Turner to stay in Sydney and chase his NRL dream.

Kyle Turner credited Greg Inglis with saving his career. Picture: Brett Costello

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“That moment was the tipping point for me,” Turner told The Daily Telegraph.

“I could have easily (quit). The first couple of weeks in pre-season I was thinking, ‘what am I doing here?’ It was hard as anything.

“But GI was the first player to take me under his wing, which meant a lot because coming from the country to the city was really intimidating and I didn’t really like it at first.

“I found it really hard to be away from home but Greg let me know that everything was going to be alright.

“He told me I had the capability to play first grade and he also gave me his boots.

“It meant a lot because I was really struggling.

“For a player of Greg’s stature to do that for me was massive.

Turner won the 2014 grand final alongside Inglis. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“I owe my first grade career to GI. I can’t thank and praise him enough for what he has done for me.”

Seven seasons on, Turner is now a regular first grader and a premiership winner following Souths’ 2014 grand final heroics over Canterbury.

The 27-year-old credits much of his success to Inglis taking him under his wing when he was a rattled rookie.

And while ‘GI’ is retiring, Turner believes the champion back will still have a profound impact at Souths in his coaching and mentor role.

“It is massive that Greg is staying at the club post his footy career,” he said.

“Everyone can learn from him even though he isn’t out on the field.

“My advice to the young players would be to go and talk to GI and get as much knowledge from him as you can.

“Greg is one of those players that only comes around every once and a while.

“He is that quiet voice around the joint but when he does speak up he has everyone in the room focused on him.

“Even though he has retired, whatever he says at training or in the sheds is going to fire us up.

“Greg would love to be out there on the field with us but his body isn’t allowing him to do that, so we’ll go out there and do the job for him.”