WHEN Greg Inglis crumpled to the ground with an injury, fans around Australia held their breath.
The Rabbitohs star was sent to the deck early in the first half after his knee problem — which has bothered him for well over a year — became an issue.
Inglis received treatment from physios and returned to the field soon after, being sent to the wing over his usual position at fullback in an effort to lighten his load.
Fans around Australia collectively groaned at the thought of Inglis — who was limping around the field — potentially ruining his year minutes after the season began, but the 30-year-old had other ideas.
Inglis scored a jaw-dropping try shortly after the mishap, picking up a clever grubber placed by Cody Walker in what appeared to be a miraculous recovery.
“He must’ve had a knee transplant,” Gus Gould screamed as Inglis slid over for the four-pointer.
Inglis hobbles over!#NRLSouthsTigers 8-18. #NRLpic.twitter.com/2XoKax6qL4
— NRL (@NRL) March 3, 2017
As brilliant as his try was on one leg, fans weren’t happy with the Souths keeping him on the field. Inglis stayed on the wing after Hymel Hunt was sent to the sideline with a concussion, a decision that stirred up a storm on Twitter as fans slammed the Souths for poorly handling the situation.
Seems borderline criminal that Souths are making Inglis endure this punishment.
— Patrick Stack (@PatrickStackFOX) March 3, 2017
Inglis is still out there … #NRLSouthsTigerspic.twitter.com/IXUGeJbaAw
— Palmerbet (@PalmerbetAU) March 3, 2017
Inglis needs to leave the field. Rewind the tape; he fell over when the play went past him. #NRLSouthsTigers
— James Smith (@JamesSmith1001) March 3, 2017
Not a good sight to see if you’re a Souths fan.Source:News Corp Australia
The Souths fullback eventually left the field in the second half after his heroic effort. Inglis’ showstopping display caught the attention of the fans early in the piece, but it was the opposite side’s No. 1 who stole the show. James Tedesco — who put on a virtuoso performance — ruined Robbie Farah’s fresh start at South Sydney, the Wests Tigers’ No. 1 firing his side to a 34-18 thumping.
Tedesco scored one, set up another and played an important role in a further two as the Tigers ran riot in the six-tries-to-four rout.
He turned the game on its head when he created something out of nothing — stepping off his left foot and then his right to leave Alex Johnston, Kyle Turner and Sam Burgess clutching at air to score and make it 12-4 in the 19th minute.
When he sent Chris Lawrence over six minutes later with a crisp, flat pass, the Tigers were making metres at will and the Rabbitohs looked rudderless. Inglis’ try just before the break gave Souths a sniff of a chance but Tedesco again turned provider after the break, putting David Nofoaluma through a hole as they ran 90m to score through Mitchell Moses.
“Unbelievable performance from Tedesco.” – Darren Lockyer. #NRLSouthsTigers#9WWOSpic.twitter.com/jCLKlcxnzJ
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) March 3, 2017
The Tigers’ post-Farah era was off to a flying start with Tedesco, Nofoaluma, Aaron Woods and Moses all outstanding as they played with flair and confidence. Winger Moses Suli also scored a double on debut but was found out in defence during Inglis’ try.
Tigers centre Jamal Idris had an indifferent return to the NRL, dropping the ball with his first touch.
Farah, in his first outing in new colours after his controversial exit from the Tigers, largely had an uneventful night as his side were overawed. The Rabbitohs have big problems with Inglis under an injury cloud and halfback Adam Reynolds expected to miss the next three weeks with appendicitis.
— with AAP
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