Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Greg Inglis never wanted to take over from Billy Slater under these circumstances.
But with Inglis aged 26 and Slater 30, the future for Australia is likely to arrive in London this Saturday when Inglis runs out in the No.1 jumper in a World Cup semi-final.
As cruel as it sounds in the aftermath of Slater's potentially tournament ending knee injury suffered in the 62-0 demolition of the United States, the immediate talking point that followed the game was how exciting it was to see Inglis back where he now belongs.
At his best Inglis is the most dangerous attacking force in rugby league and fullback is where he plays his best football.
The South Sydney superstar makes no secret of the fact he wants to be known as the world's best number one one day - but following the injury to Slater, Inglis was reluctant to start talking himself up.
But asked if he would relish the opportunity to play fullback this week, Inglis said: "I would love to wear that number one but I am not the coach.
"A lot happens in a week so we will just have to wait and see."
Greg Inglis is by Akuila Uate of Fiji during the a Rugby League World Cup group match. Source: Getty Images
While Slater was yesterday awaiting results of an MRI scan he appears next to no hope of playing any further part in the World Cup after going down clutching the same knee that he injured in State of Origin II last year that sidelined him for almost two months.
Slater went up to catch a bomb in the second minute of the second half and when he landed he said he knew he was in trouble.
"I knew straight away what it felt like," Slater said.
"It's a classic (posterior cruciate ligament) injury.
"I had a grade three PCL last year. Although my knee was hitting the ground last year it was in the same position."
Billy Slater runs the ball during during the clash against USA. Source: Getty Images
Slater went for scans in Manchester after the game and when he returned to the team hotel the Kangaroos' management didn't seem to have great confidence in his immediate future given there is only a maximum of two games left at the World Cup.
You had to feel for Slater as he stood there in the freezing cold in Wrexham in northern Wales talking us through the injury that came at the end of his week from hell.
The nightclub fight, the fallout, now this.
Someone said to him it was a shocking way to end it, to which Slater deadpanned: "Sure is."
But for Inglis, you just wonder if this is the beginning of the next chapter in his already brilliant career.
Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Before he suffered his knee injury in Origin III this year Inglis was on another planet to every other fullback in the game _ and the way he went chasing the ball against the United States was like he was finally back to his menacing best.
He set up Jarryd Hayne for the first try on the right edge and then scored the next himself down the left.
He also put Brett Morris over for one of his four tries in the countdown to halftime and then in the second half when he took over from Slater at fullback Inglis gave the poor Tomahawks hell and had at least four players on his back when he bulldozed over for his second try.
He said after the game that was his plan was to simply to get more involved.
"In the end I just want to get my hands on the ball and run a bit more," he said.
Inglis had a quite game first up in the tournament opener against England before Tim Sheens moved him to fullback for the second game against Fiji and he ran for more than 200 metres.
He didn't play against Ireland but he made up for his absence against the United States.
It was by far Australia's best attacking performance at the World Cup and the third straight game they haven't conceded a try.
Brett Morris and Jarryd Hayne both equalled an Australian Test and World Cup record with four tries each while Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk were the other try scorers along with the double to Inglis.
AUSTRALIA 62 (J Hayne 4 B Morris 4 G Inglis 2 C Cronk C Smith tries J Thurston 7 goals) TOMAHAWKS 0 at The Racecourse. Referee: Henry Perenara.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
See you Slater, G.I.'s No.1
Dengan url
http://sportlanhealty.blogspot.com/2013/11/see-you-slater-gis-no1.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
See you Slater, G.I.'s No.1
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar