Warrington Wolves v Hull KR - Robins’ Shaun Kenny-Dowall welcomes return of Wolves’ superstar Greg Inglis

Familiar face: Hull KR's Shaun Kenny-Dowall has come up against Greg Inglis many times in his career. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.Familiar face: Hull KR's Shaun Kenny-Dowall has come up against Greg Inglis many times in his career. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
Familiar face: Hull KR's Shaun Kenny-Dowall has come up against Greg Inglis many times in his career. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
WHOEVER the legendary Greg Inglis lines up against this lunchtime in his long-awaited return to rugby league it is likely to be a familiar face in the Hull KR side.

The Australian superstar, 34, will make his debut for Warrington Wolves – more than two years after the Queensland State of Origin hero retired while at South Sydney.

He is expected to feature in the centre for Warrington, meaning he will likely come up against Shaun Kenny-Dowall or Brad Takairangi, both veterans of the NRL themselves.

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Robins captain Kenny-Dowall, 33, featured with Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights.

“I played against Greg plenty of times when he was at Souths, Melbourne and on the international scene when the Kiwis played Australia,” he told The Yorkshire Post.

“You just know that every time he got the ball he’d be a handful.

“I was speaking to one of the boys earlier about how he really is one of the hardest players to tackle as he is that strong and agile for such a big man.

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“It was always a daunting task every time you came up against him and you just marvel at some of the things that he could do.

Comeback: Australia, State of Origin and NRL star Greg Inglis is due to come out of retirement for Warrignton Wolves today. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)Comeback: Australia, State of Origin and NRL star Greg Inglis is due to come out of retirement for Warrignton Wolves today. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Comeback: Australia, State of Origin and NRL star Greg Inglis is due to come out of retirement for Warrignton Wolves today. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

“It will be a tough time for us but it’s going to be good to have him back. It’s awesome.”

Inglis has suffered with depression as well as alcohol issues previously in his career and, on arriving in the UK, has needed time to build up his fitness ahead of making his bow.

On the impact of having such an iconic player appear here, Kenny-Dowall admitted: “It’s huge for Super League but great for Greg as well.

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“He’s had a lot of time out of the game but he wants to go out on his own terms and I think he deserves the right to take as much time as he needs to make sure he’s mentally and physically in the right shape.

“I wish it was a week later, to be fair! Everyone is wishing him well on his return and I’m sure he’ll be great for the comp’.”

Meanwhile, former Kiwi centre Takairangi, 31, made his Rovers debut when they defeated Leeds Rhinos 26-6 last week – the first time the Robins have secured back-to-back Super League wins since 2018.

The former Parramatta Eels and Gold Coast Titans player is another who has come across Inglis plenty of times.

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Kenny-Dowall added; “Brad’s brought a lot to the team. He’s another experienced player and it really showed.

“He tightened up our defence. We were leaking too many points on that right edge and he’s just another experienced voice on that side of the field.

“He’ll be a presence for us. We’re building on what we’re doing. The boys have got a lot of confidence and we’re really sticking to our processes and executing our gameplans. It’s showing out there.

“Warrington are a class team and above us on the table but we’re looking forward to the challenge; we’re excited and confident rather than flat.”

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