Inglis’s claim to lead Queensland something to crow about

Russell Crowe knows better than most when someone is bunging on an act.

Greg Inglis during Souths training at Redfern Oval, Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

Russell Crowe, who knows better than most when someone is bunging on an act, has lauded the no-nonsense leadership of Greg Inglis as the South Sydney skipper prepares for his final National Rugby League match before his near-certain ascension to the captaincy of Queensland’s State of Origin side.

“Some captains are politicians,” the Oscar-winning Rabbitohs’ owner told The Australian when he was asked his thoughts on Inglis as a player, man and leader. “Some joke around. Some make great stirring speeches. Greg Inglis, in his preparation, determination and pure will to win, is a captain who leads simply by example. He distils his thoughts and when he talks, players listen and follow his lead — because his words resonate and his will is without question.”

Inglis’s return to the Rabbitohs this year after injury cruelled his 2017 season has coincided with the fourth-placed Bunnies returning to the realm of premiership contender. They meet the third-placed New Zealand Warriors and their old mate Issac Luke in Auckland on Saturday night as Inglis starts at fullback for the first time in more than a year following an injury to Alex Johnston.

“He’s done it before there,” Rabbitohs veteran John Sutton said. “He’s a freak of a player. He went back there last week when AJ went off and didn’t look out of place. He’s one of the best players to have played this game and he’s going to do a great job for us back there.”

Sutton was Souths’ captain when they won the 2014 premiership. Luke was an integral member of the side, only to be rubbed out of the grand final by suspension. Sutton is more South Sydney than Maroubra Beach, where he’s from, but the 33-year-old backrower is in the uncomfortable position of being off-contract for next season. Asked if he could imagine playing against the cardinal and myrtle for another club, the 293-game Sutton replied: “Umm, I don’t know! It’d be hard. I’m just trying to enjoy my football at the moment because I don’t know how long I’ve got left in the game. I’m taking it day-by-day, week-by-week, and making sure I enjoy every day I come in here. I feel like that’s working for me.”

Inglis, the Burgess brothers and Origin candidate Damien Cook have received all the raps for the club’s resurgence but Sutton has been as productive as he was when he led the club through the glory, glory days of 2014. Wanting future employment will do that to you. His backrow accomplice Angus Crichton has hit his straps in recent weeks. Wanting a future Origin jumper will do that to you, too. Sutton said the Rabbitohs forwards had started meeting for a weekly coffee to state their ambitions for the following match. Piccolos and game plans.

“We just really want to work hard for each other,” Sutton said. “The forward pack gets together every week to have a coffee and talk about the stuff we really want to do in the game. It’s going well for us at the moment. We’re doing the little things well but we’ve definitely got a lot to improve on. We’re only halfway through the year and it’s a great test this week against the Warriors. We haven’t caught up for a coffee yet. We’ll catch up tomorrow (in Auckland). We’ll just talk about how everyone really has to nail their jobs.” The Warriors beat the Rabbitohs 32-20 during the season-opening at Perth’s Optus Stadium in March. They’ve named Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for a mouth-watering clash of long-striding, crowd-pleasing fullbacks at Mount Smart Stadium — but they could still lose their captain before kick-off.

He was a late scratching against Parramatta last week because he wanted to support his fiancee, Ashley Walker, at the birth of their first baby. Only for the baby to not yet be born. The due date? Saturday. “There’s no plan to it,” Tuivasa-Sheck said. “I’m just going in ready to play and if the birth happens, it happens. I’m happy if it does. I’ve got the support of the club on that.”