Rabbitohs say Greg Inglis isn’t carrying an injury — but if so, what’s holding him back?

SOUTH Sydney maintain Greg Inglis isn’t carrying an injury. But if the Rabbitohs No.1 is really fully fit, what’s holding him back?

It only takes a quick YouTube search to question if Souths are telling us the full story.

Go back to Greg Inglis’s greatest tries and ask yourself this: from what you’ve seen so far this year, does the knee really look right?

Last week, just before Souths’ game against the Roosters, Michael Maguire did an interview on Triple M and was asked if Inglis was playing injured.

Maguire’s response, in many ways, was what you’d expect from a coach trying to protect his player.

No, Inglis was fine, Maguire said, or words to that effect. He went on to explain that a lot of people don’t see all the good Inglis has been doing on the field this year.

Maguire mentioned some of the trysaving feats Inglis had produced, and with that the conversation moved on. Until Friday night, when the 2014 premiers run out against last year’s premiers — with Souths now clinging to 8th spot on the NRL ladder, with just one win from their last four games.

Even with Adam Reynolds back from his broken jaw, Souths will need something special from G.I. and Sam Burgess if they are to have any hope of knocking over the Cowboys at home.

Following North Queensland, Souths takes on the Broncos next Friday night at Suncorp.

It was that same match against the Broncos two years ago, to the month, where Inglis picked up the ball from a kick just outside his own 10 metre line — and then raced 90 metres-plus and beat seven defenders on his way for perhaps the greatest touchdown of his illustrious career.

You look back over Inglis’ career highlights and you still marvel at the breathtaking skill and power and speed that made him the finest athlete of his generation.

But this season we are left pointing to the tries he stops, not that they are any less important, it’s just in the past he did both.

It is important to note that Inglis’ form so far this year has been good enough to have him equal fourth in the Dally M Medal count. And the stats, comparing Inglis’ efforts this year to previous years, are not so different, except for a vital few.

In fairness, as the information supplied by Fox Sports Stats show, most of them are almost on par to what they were last year — and in 2014 when Inglis was at the top of his game on the march to that drought breaking premiership.

The average possessions, runs and metres are pretty much the same. Though from 2014 the tackle busts have reduced from 37 to 22 to 18 this year for the same period leading into round seven. On top of that, line breaks have gone from 7 to 2 to 3 in that time, try assists from 3 to 5 to 1, and tries 4 to 2 to 1.

South Sydney won’t confirm reports Inglis is carrying a knee injury.

Even before Maguire’s comments last week, Matty Johns, speaking the truth as always, pointed out something right at the bottom of his Friday column in The Daily Telegraph that a lot of other commentators seem reluctant to talk about.

Johns was writing about young Roosters fullback Latrell Mitchell when he questioned: “While I’m urging Mitchell to do more, the same can be said to Inglis. Is G.I. carrying a knee injury? Or knowing the length of the season, holding back a little? One thing is certain, Souths don’t look a premiership force with Inglis quiet.”

It’s not that Johns would be missing what Maguire was detailing about Inglis’ defence or effort, it’s just the honesty of his comments create added doubt.

Will we ever see Inglis return to his devastating best?

Like plenty of others who watch the game, he sees the difference, despite the denials, and is left wondering if all is right with the great G.I. And as the Rabbitohs captain, and probably their highest paid player along with Burgess, you want to see Inglis coming up with the big plays that turn games and inspire his team.

Like the leader Souths are up against in Johnathan Thurston, who continually finds a way to lift his team. If Thurston’s form was down we’d be asking questions too.

And we haven’t even entered the rep season yet, which always takes the greatest toll on Inglis.

If Inglis is fit, like Johns said, it is his responsibility to insert himself more on games than he has so far this season. Or is the knee worse than Souths are letting on? Time will tell us, even if Souths won’t.

Originally published as Rabbitohs say Greg Inglis isn’t carrying an injury — but if so, what’s holding him back?