Inglis admits fullback's his best fit - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Inglis admits fullback's his best fit

Steve Jancetic 15/03/2011 06:07:54 PM Comments (0)

South Sydney recruit Greg Inglis has added his weight to the push for a switch to fullback, but admits the size of his girth could prove an obstacle.

Just days after his former coach Craig Bellamy claimed Inglis' best position remained fullback, the former Melbourne star expressed his preference for the No.1 jumper - a position he hasn't played on a regular basis since 2006 at the Storm.

Speculation surrounding Inglis' role heightened after a quiet opening night with the Rabbitohs in which he managed just 12 touches in the 40-29 loss to Sydney Roosters last Friday.

Bellamy's comments only added to the argument, with veteran Souths fullback Rhys Wesser in the firing line.

"I still think my best position is fullback, but I made centre my own," Inglis told OneHD's One Week at a Time program.

"Wherever you put me ... I'll do the job as best as I can.

"I'd only been back on the field for three weeks before round one and obviously getting the combination right with (second rower) David Taylor - (who) I played a bit of Origin with last year and John Sutton ... I'll just do my best to go in and get the ball.

"I like being involved more in the game, I always aim for about 20 touches in a game."

Inglis was forced out of the fullback role at Melbourne due to the presence of Billy Slater, and despite a two-season flirtation with the No.6 jumper, has gone on to cement himself as the best centre in the game.

But while the 24-year-old would no doubt embrace a return to the fullback role, Inglis realises he's no longer the lithe teenager he was when he wore the No.1 jumper at Melbourne.

Asked whether he could make the switch now, Inglis said:

"If I wasn't weighing 112 kilos I could probably move around the park a bit better like Billy Slater and Rhys Wesser."

As for his weight, which was a hot topic during the NRL pre-season when he arrived at Redfern carrying some extra kilos following shoulder surgery, Inglis said he was comfortable with where he was at.

"I dropped a lot of weight fat-wise coming back - they got me in doing a lot of cardio and trimming down," Inglis said.

"I felt fine ... I played at 111kg on the weekend."

Inglis also revealed his mooted interest in switching to AFL when the NRL dithered over the registration of his contract with the Rabbitohs was very real.

"The AFL, that was no rumour, that was actually true," Inglis said.

"I had a meeting with David Gallop two days before I flew down to Essendon to talk to (Essendon coach) James Hird and I was very serious about it."

While the switch of codes never eventuated, the Kangaroos star said negotiations had been a close-run thing.

"I came back Christmas Eve and had another meeting with Gallop before I flew up to Brisbane to spend Christmas with the in-laws," he said.

"I got the phone call that afternoon from himself (Gallop) saying everything's been done.

"I pretty much put a deadline on it saying if it's not done on Christmas Day then I'll be walking away."

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