How Warrington Wolves stunned the sport by tempting Australia legend Greg Inglis out of retirement

In all fairness, no one could truly have imagined it would come in the shape of Greg Inglis – yes, ‘GI’, that legendary force of nature, man-mountain centre with the stunning grace of a gazelle – coming out of retirement to join Warrington Wolves.

Sonny Bill Williams’s arrival in Super League was huge. Israel Folau’s was huge and controversial. But yesterday’s revelation was gargantuan in comparison.

That said, Warrington have a habit for such things having once tempted over another Kangaroos icon Andrew Johns – one of the greatest players to play the sport – for a short three-game stint in 2005. That was the year Inglis, as a strapping, tall and freakishly talented 18-year-old, made his NRL debut with Melbourne Storm, coming on for Jake Webster, the injured winger who would later play with Hull KR, Castleford Tigers, Bradford Bulls and, latterly, Keighley Cougars.

This is Super League’s biggest coup since Johns’s magical cameo given, between then and now, the explosive Inglis has proved himself to be one of the world’s finest players of the modern era.

A record of 31 tries in 39 Tests for the Kangaroos only touches the surface of just how good Inglis was (it remains to be seen if that should be ‘is’); the manner in which he terrorised defences at Test, Origin and club level was so often brutal.

Inglis captained Australia briefly, won the Golden Boot in 2009, lifted the 2013 World Cup, scored 18 tries in 32 appearances during Queensland’s relentless winning streak and, of course, won the 2014 NRL Grand Final alongside English legend Sam Burgess.

That said, there will be question marks: he is 33 and has not played for 14 months having retired as a Souths player last April, walking away with 18 months still left on his deal having been dogged by persistent knee and shoulder issues.

Inglis has also struggled with his mental health, spending time in rehab’ twice and revealing last weekend that he has also been diagnosed with bipolar II.

Nevertheless, Warrington say he is refreshed and ready to go in 2021 having signed a one-year contract that sent shockwaves around the sport.

In a week where half of Super League’s dozen clubs are pushing for the salary cap to be reduced in 2021, it is either ironic or a wonderful piece of strategic thinking on Wolves’ part that the deal was announced yesterday.

For years there has been ongoing discourse that the cap needs to go up – not down – and Warrington bringing such profile to the competition with this stunning piece of business will be a timely reminder to many of why they feel that needs to be the case.

This year the salary cap stands at £2.1m but many clubs would like a 15 per cent reduction for 2021 due to the effects of Covid-19: Warrington – backed by the millionaire music mogul Simon Moran – are clearly not one.

He has invested a small fortune in trying to end the club’s wait for a first league title since 1955 although still to no avail.

It will be intriguing to see how they do get Inglis on board, though, given the financial restrictions and also how Warrington players react; they have taken pay cuts following the pandemic and are also on furlough.

Clubs are permitted two ‘marquee’ players whose cap value is limited to £175,000, meaning they can pay anything they like above that.

However, Warrington already have two such players in England stand-off Gareth Widdop – who played alongside Inglis at Melbourne in 2010 and returned from the NRL this year – plus Australian half-back Blake Austin.

With England stars Daryl Clark, Chris Hill, Stefan Ratchford and Ben Currie on their books, as well as Australian loose forward Jason Clark who won the NRL with Inglis at Souths, they are a squad packed with talent.

Inglis said: “I can’t wait to get over there and play for a club that has so much rich heritage.

“I’ve played over in England many times in representative footy and love how passionate and vocal the supporters are.

“To get the opportunity to live in the UK, to play for such a powerhouse club that I believe is on the rise is something I’m looking forward to.”

Warrington CEO Karl Fitzpatrick – who says Inglis will not be a marquee player – said the “signing is a gift to every one of our fantastic members and partners who are currently experiencing difficult times” and “something to look forward to”.

Meanwhile, head coach Steve Price added: “Greg is a world class athlete and has received the highest honours within our game.

“Having had 12 months out of the sport he has had time to refresh both mentally and physically, and is focussed on having a positive influence on Warrington Wolves.”

Everyone, not just Warrington fans, will be desperate to see if that comes to fruition.

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