Greg Inglis has revealed he is considering walking away from Origin
QUEENSLAND ace Greg Inglis opens up on his playing future and his shock State of Origin plans to prolong his NRL career.
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MAROONS ace Greg Inglis has revealed he is considering walking away from Origin and Test football to prolong his NRL career.
Just a fortnight after Johnathan Thurston outlined plans to retire from representative football in 2017, Inglis has become the latest Queensland star to confront his long-term future.
Inglis again showed why he is one of the NRL’s superstars on Sunday, scoring a magnificent solo try to orchestrate the Rabbitohs’ 42-10 season-opening demolition of the Roosters.
But with the Souths skipper set to celebrate his 30th birthday next January, Inglis is increasingly mindful of the physical toll of juggling club, Test and Origin football.
Cowboys champion Thurston plans to walk away from the Maroons at the end of next year and Inglis says quitting rep football has crossed his mind for the first time in his decorated career.
“Definitely. If you want to keep playing in the NRL, you have to look at your options and that (quitting rep footy) is a possibility,” he said.
“There’s a new crop of young talent coming through and let’s face it, I’m getting older.
“As I get older, you have to start thinking about giving up rep footy and making choices that are not only best for yourself, but your family and the club as well.
“I’m 29, so I’d like to think I can play a few more years for Queensland and Australia.
“But I’ve come through with guys like Cam Smith and Thurston and Billy Slater and I’ve seen a few other guys I’ve played with already retire.
“I need to look after my body as I get older.”
Inglis is arguably the finest athlete of his generation but has been hampered by a knee injury for the past two years.
A veteran of 27 Origin matches and 34 Tests, Inglis was one player being considered to succeed Smith as Queensland skipper as the Storm rake enters his twilight years.
The Rabbitohs custodian has revelled in a leadership role at Redfern, but admits he has no burning ambition to captain the Maroons.
“No, it (skippering Queensland) is not something I’m really aiming for,” he said.
“I just want to hit the ground running with Souths and have a good year.
“I never expected to become a captain at Souths, but it’s really grown me as a person on and off the field.
“Living in Sydney has taught me a lot about myself. I came down once on a school excursion and I was always against living in the big smoke.
“But I’m glad I came down and got the opportunity to play for a great club.
“I just have a desire to do better than I did last year. ”
Originally published as Greg Inglis has revealed he is considering walking away from Origin
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