Greg Inglis has opened up on the mentoring role he hopes to provide to young gun fullback Jahream Bula, insisting his only work with the Wests Tigers will be to help guide the star’s off-field life.
In one of his first interviews since making a surprise appearance at Tigers training alongside new coach Benji Marshall, the NRL legend has revealed the conversation he had with Marshall which led to the Bula partnership.
Inglis was snapped at the club’s Concord headquarters last weekend as he takes a one-on-one role helping Bula adjust to his second year in the NRL after a wonderful rookie season.
Having worked tirelessly to expand the work of his Goanna Academy in improving the mental health of kids and vulnerable Australians, particularly in regional communities, Inglis confessed his new role was driven by Marshall.
He doesn’t have an official position within the Tigers’ football department, which is being reshaped by Marshall and chief executive Shane Richardson, who brought Inglis to the Rabbitohs more than a decade ago.
And don’t expect him to be passing on the intricacies of fullback play to Bula - or any other Tiger for that matter - just yet.
Greg Inglis was spotted at Wests Tigers headquarters last weekend.
“First and foremost, we had to ring the guy we were thinking about working on in Jahream,” Inglis said. “You can’t go working on somebody if they don’t want it. He’s a quiet kid.
“My approach is to keep him away from all of the stuff which can distract him off the field. Once you know that, your life away from footy is going great and you’re happy, then naturally that’s going to transfer onto the field.
“If he rings me up and asks for tips around football, then 100 per cent I’ll give it to him. But Benji’s big key is - and mine as well - is to make sure he has time for himself and not spreading himself around too much.
“He’s still a kid and he’s still growing and his main priority is to focus on his footy.”
Bula went from a relative unknown last year to making his NRL debut in round eight and sweeping all the club’s major awards, including the Kelly-Barnes Medal as player of the year.
He signed a mega contract extension which ties him to the club until 2027, but Marshall is using Inglis to ensure he stays grounded as the Tigers try to rid themselves of back-to-back wooden spoons.
Inglis has only spent a couple of training sessions with Marshall, but it’s been enough to know what an impact the coach is already having on the squad.
“You can see a difference in the squad and the team,” Inglis said. “That just comes back to respect. The players respect all the coaches here and they respect the hell out of Benji.
Jahream Bula has emerged as one of the Tigers’ best young stars in years.Credit: Louise Kennerley/SMH
“As soon as Benji talks, they all gravitate to him and soak it up. I’ve only been out here a couple of times, but I can see that. Inside this place there hasn’t been one negative I’ve seen.”
While Inglis has taken on a new project working with Bula, his main priority is to continue his mission with the Goanna Academy to improve the lives of others after his own post retirement struggles.
“I’ve been through lived experiences - going from such a high level sporting arena to not knowing what to do after retirement and having that spiral very quickly,” Inglis said.
“But my psychiatrist said I had the potential to save a life. That’s rewarding. To change a life and save a life has got me on this journey.
“I know I’m helping kids spreading the word, but myself and the staff are learning a lot as well. This is like our grand final when we can go out there and save a life or help somebody out. But we’re also hearing stories that help us to learn about other experiences as well.”
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