Sam Thaiday adamant fans will see the best of Greg Inglis in the Anzac Test

SAM Thaiday wants it out there that Greg Inglis is struggling. He wants everyone to question his form and desire and whether he is playing busted.

Greg Inglis arrives for the Kangaroos training session.

SAM Thaiday wants it out there that Greg Inglis is struggling.

Wants us to continue bagging him and publicly questioning his form and desire and whether he is playing busted.

Generally keep putting him down in the build-up to Friday’s Anzac Test against the Kiwis.

Greg Inglis during warm at the Kangaroos training session. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Why?

“Because every time it happens, he ends up playing a great game,” Thaiday says.

“So please, write some bad stories about him. Keep on talking about him and bringing him down because I’m looking forward to seeing how he is going to react out on the field.

“Because that’s what GI does best. When people are doubting him and saying he is not playing great footy, he ends up coming out and playing some absolute fantastic footy and plays himself into form for the rest of the year.”

Thaiday believes the recent criticism of Inglis is largely because he has taken it on himself to try and drag his South Sydney side out of a form slump.

“I think it’s coming because South Sydney aren’t playing fantastic football at the moment and you can really see Greg is trying hard out there and almost trying too hard,” Thaiday said.

Sam Thaiday during warm up for the Kangaroos training session. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“When you are trying hard and things aren’t going your way, you don’t look as great out there on the field.”

Asked did he believe the Test jumper and playing under Mal Meninga at Kangaroos level for the first time would bring the best out in Inglis at Hunter Stadium, Thaiday said:

“I think Mal brings out the best in everyone.

“Mal’s been very vocal since we’ve come in and tried to change a few things to get Australia back as that number 1 rep team. He’s got that touch and charisma to make anyone in this team bring out their best.”

In the wake of three straight defeats to the Kiwis in their past three Tests, Thaiday revealed the playing group is using Meninga’s own Test career as inspiration for Friday night.

“I was a young boy but I’ve seen a lot of highlights now and Mal was fantastic,” he said.

Inglis has been in bad form for the Rabbitohs.

“It was only a discussion yesterday (among the players) that we watched those Kangaroo teams as kids and they were just unbeatable. They were the best teams and Mal was a part of those teams and that’s where we want to get back to.

“We want young kids now to watch us play and see that we are unbeatable and we are the best team and that’s where Mal wants us to get back to.”

When he was asked had some of the intense passion and pride in the Kangaroos jumper been missing in recent years, Thaiday didn’t sugar coat things.

“There was probably a squad there that had been selected on their merits year after year, game after game and maybe we lost the shine and the polish off the jersey,” he said.

“I’m at the point in my career where I can’t be complacent about this jersey and I can’t take this jersey lighthearted. I was very happy and humbled to be selected in this team again.

“Now we really want to get that passion and that pride back and make sure every time we put that Australian jersey on, we are doing the job.”