Greg Inglis keen on extending representative career to become Kangaroos skipper

KANGAROOS centre Greg Inglis has no intention of standing down from the representative ranks and would love to one day lead his country.

Australia's Greg Inglis during the rugby league Test Match between the Australian Kangaroos and the New Zealand Kiwis at Hunter Stadium , Newcastle .Picture : Gregg Porteous

GREG Inglis’ form has been questioned over the past year but he has no intentions of giving up representative football and would love to be Australia’s next captain.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has endorsed the 29-year-old centre as a leading contender to replace Cameron Smith when he retires from the representative ranks.

The Kangaroos are on the verge of a significant generational change within the next 12 months.

Already Johnathan Thurston has signalled his intentions to retire from representative football at the end of next year’s World Cup while the futures of veterans Smith, Sam Thaiday and Cooper Cronk remain undecided.

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Kangaroos stalwarts Paul Gallen and Corey Parker were overlooked for the Four Nations as the national side started its shift towards regeneration.

Inglis has experience and time remaining in the game on his side in his bid to become the leader of Australia’s next generation.

Inglis says he wants to lead Australia one day.

“I would love to captain the Australian side,” Inglis said. “If it gets thrown my way I would love to do it.”

With a couple of seasons under his belt as Rabbitohs skipper, Inglis is the natural fit to succeed Smith not only for Australia but for Queensland.

Having inked a new contract until the end of 2020, Inglis shows no signs of slowing down.

Talk of standing aside from representative football was never discussed as part of his new deal with South Sydney.

“My thoughts behind that are is if you’re still playing football, that’s what you want to do,” Inglis said. “You want to represent. As long as I’m playing club footy, I want to do the best I can to hold onto those rep jerseys.

“In the years to come if Smithy does end up retiring, and they look at me, I would love to (captain Australia). The way Cam is going, it’s probably a fair way away.”

Inglis has been a fixture in the Australian team for the last decade.

Inglis and Meninga share a unique relationship. It was the Kangaroos mentor who threw Inglis his first Maroons jersey as a teenager in 2006.

Meninga also gave Inglis his first taste of representative leadership when he skippered the Prime Minister’s XIII against Papua New Guinea before the Four Nations.

“It’s great to have a goal and desire,” Meninga said. “He is up to it. He is 29, and just signed a new contract with Souths. I gave him the gig in PNG and he was excited by all that. You’ve got to have goals and aspirations. It’s fantastic to know (he wants to captain Australia).

“He would be in the picture down the track. When Cameron retires, if he does. (Inglis) is a leader of our team now. His growth over the years has been fantastic.”

The Kangaroos coach has watched closely as Inglis developed into one of the game’s best leaders. Meninga, who had a decorated career captaining Australia and Queensland, said Inglis had followed a similar path to leadership as he had.

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“He was a quiet, good kid,” Meninga said. “He only wanted to do well. He had that passion for the Queensland jersey.

“I was like (him) when I was a kid, it’s about being respectful in an environment where there are some senior people around. Over time, if you are continually playing well and are consistent with your form you start to get more confident around the group and have an opinion and that opinion is valued.

“Everything he does is around the team. He understands if the team is successful, he will be successful. He is a quality player and a quality person.

“His leadership has developed over the years as he has gained more experience and understood how much he is admired and respected.”

Inglis will line up for his 37th Test when the Kangaroos play the Kiwis on Sunday morning.

Originally published as Greg Inglis keen on extending representative career to become Kangaroos skipper