Greg Inglis is a great signing, but timing just seems wrong - Gareth Ellis

He was in the left centre for Australia and I was right second-row. We’d stripped them for numbers a little on our edge and I could sense it happening so I got tipped on the ball and I could feel him coming from the edge to try and shut it down.

The ball was just above my head so I tried to catch and tip on over my head but I remember him coming through my ribs and absolutely smashing me in one of those moments when you don’t feel your breath for about an hour! Obviously, Warrington Wolves have announced they are bringing Inglis out of retirement for the 2021 season and it is a huge signing for them and Super League.

There’s good players and then ones like Inglis who can win you games, turn it on at any moment and – what seems almost at will – come up with something special.

When you’re playing against those sorts, it is really frustrating.

Inglis is a cut above and he is freakishly talented; he’s shown that on so many occasions.

In terms of highlight reels he has one of the best I’ve ever seen and, in years to come, people will talk about him as one of the best there’s been.

Talented, strong, quick and big... when you have that going for you you are onto something. It just requires a bit of application and you become as good as he has.

All in all I think it is great for the game. My only concern is I just don’t know about the timing of it. I don’t know what the crack is at Warrington but I was led to believe – like at all clubs during Covid – all members of staff were taking a pay cut.

If you were one of those who has done that and then the club announce a signing like this – I imagine Inglis doesn’t come cheap – it could put some noses out of joint.

People are making sacrifices financially and we do all understand the game needs it. And under any other circumstances I’d be one of the first to applaud this signing. But your club’s suddenly started its recruitment drive mid-pay cut, mid-pandemic and are gloating about signing a player like Inglis, I just felt it was a little bit off.

As for whether he will be a success having retired last April, I don’t think he would have done this if he didn’t think he could.

And putting myself into his shoes I can see why he might feel that way.

For someone like him who has been top of the game for so long, it’s clear he had a few niggles and it might have an effect mentally so it steers you in that direction of hanging the boots up.

But on reflection I was exactly the same; six or 12 months down the line you start to think those little niggles gave healed, mentally you’re in a better place and you start to miss the game and appreciate it for what it was when you were a child.

I can see why this will be a way back into the game for him and a new challenge as well.

It’s not just picking up where he left off last year in the NRL. He gets to do something totally different by coming to Super League which should spark some excitement for him and hopefully for fans over here, too.

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