Queensland's Greg inglis is tackled by Mark Gasnier and Peter Wallis during the NRL State of Origin match between Queensland and New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
He had the NSW defence at his mercy in the second Origin match in Sydney, but Maroons star Greg Inglis unfortunately remembers little of about it.
After scoring a soft try and causing havoc with the Blues’ defence, Inglis was left dazed after being on the end of a forearm from Blues five-eighth Trent Barrett, which left the Storm star on the sidelines for the remainder of the contest.
The Maroons found themselves wrongfully deprived of a player that had dominated the series so far, courtesy of a legendary right hand fend that saw him score two tries and set-up another in Origin one in Melbourne.
There were also fears that Inglis had suffered a broken jaw, possibly leaving him out of the third Origin game at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday.
But after being cleared of any serious damage to his jaw, Inglis is now primed to finish off what he started in Melbourne and Sydney, and help deliver the Maroons their first series clean sweep in sixteen years.
His performances in the cauldron of Origin football suggests Inglis is primed to inflict a knockout blow no Barrett forearm can match.
In the second Origin game last year, Inglis was absolutely superb, setting up two tries for debutant Darius Boyd to put the Maroons up 12-0 early in the first half.
He proved to be a constant nightmare for opposing centre Mark Gasnier and Melbourne team-mate Steve Turner in a match which QLD ending up winning 30-0.
Sea Eagles winger David Williams and Panthers centre Michael Jennings will be in for similar treatment if NSW fail to respect the valuable possession they will receive.
Indeed, Williams needs no reminding of the consequences that come with weak ball security against such high quality opposition.
The enigmatic Manly player was responsible for two successive knock on’s which proved to be very costly on the scoreboard for NSW.
Williams though will go a long way to attaining retribution if he can keep Inglis quiet next week.
He will no doubt have to be on his game defensively, to have any chance of stopping a player that has rightfully been compared to the legend currently coaching the Maroons in Origin football.
At this point though, it seems there is little to stop the current form that has allowed Inglis to score eight tries in just nine Origin appearances for QLD since his debut back in 2006.
And one predicts, the Maroons flyer will only add to that tally and rightfully become the centre of attention in a Maroons side that has already certified itself as the premier Origin team in history.
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