If an ordinary television show like Gogglebox can win a silver Logie, it stands to reason a superbly talented Greg Inglis can lift South Sydney from the NRL basement to the penthouse.
And it’s time for that talent to stand up.
South Sydney coach Michael Maguire has bitten the bullet and moved fullback and captain Inglis to five-eighth, a move that will make a significant difference to the Rabbits’ attack and defence.
Inglis will be in tandem with exciting halfback Adam Reynolds, and just as importantly Inglis will be closer to the pack where he must fire up three Burgess brothers who have been relative spectators this season.
So tonight is time for South Sydney to reignite as a team and stop being an embarrassment to their loyal fans.
And it’s doubtful if there will be a more intriguing game this season with Parramatta the opponent at what should be a packed Pirtek Stadium.
The Parramatta fans have been kicked in the guts by the ‘Gang of Five’ administrators who have rorted the salary cap, been threatened with de-registration, and been responsible for losing 12 hard-earned competition points.
But the club is now officially under the salary cap and tonight will be playing for points.
On the one hand, there are the Souths supporters who feel cheated their club has been playing some pathetic rugby league, and the Parramatta supporters who have been cheated of 12 competition points.
But only one support group will leave Pirtek tonight with relieved smiles on their dials, and for mine that will be Souths.
The Greg Inglis factor heads the list, with flying winger Alex Johnston taking over the fullback role, where he prefers to play.
But let’s have no more of the fact Inglis was the match-winning Melbourne Storm five-eighth in the 2007 grand final, scoring two tries and capturing the Clive Churchill Medal for best on ground in the 34-8 victory over Manly.
That’s nine years ago for heaven’s sake and as history records the then-NRL boss David Gallop ripped that win and the 2009 premiership off the Storm for rorting the cap.
So there are many side issues on show tonight in what’s a vital game for both sides.
The fact this is the Indigenous Round is also significant with tomorrow night at Suncorp record-breaking.
It will be a superb and rare double-header – Storm-Cowboys and Manly-Broncos – the 52,500 seats were sold out by Wednesday.
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