Why Greg Inglis will benefit all of Super League

Greg Inglis’ move to Warrington will provide a boost to the entire Super League.
Greg Inglis with ex-Warriors coach Michael Maguire and current Wigan prop George BurgessGreg Inglis with ex-Warriors coach Michael Maguire and current Wigan prop George Burgess
Greg Inglis with ex-Warriors coach Michael Maguire and current Wigan prop George Burgess

That was the verdict of Ex-Warrior George Williams and Wigan centre Chris Hankinson after the former Kangaroos superstar agreed to join the Wolves in 2020.

Inglis, who has not played in more than a year, is coming out of retirement and will join the likes of recent high-profile captures Israel Folau (Catalans) and Sonny Bill Williams (Toronto) in moving to Super League.

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Williams, now at Canberra, said: "He's going to be loved. He's one of the greatest to play the game, if he's fit and well - like it seems he is - he'll be great for the Super League.

"The English game needs a few superstars to bring in a few people from the outside who don't normally watch it."

Hankinson said: “It’s great having names like this coming to our competition.

“These are people who you grow up watching and Youtubing their highlights.

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For us as players, it’s great to play against them, but for everyone involved in the sport it’s great to watch them.

“They put bums on seats and eyes in front of the TV screen and that’s what we want as a competition.”

Inglis’ arrival will be during the last year of the current broadcasting deal with Sky Sports.

And his signing yesterday was at a time when half of the Super League clubs want the salary cap, currently at a baseline limit of £2.1m, to be reduced.

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It’s been reported elsewhere that all six in favour of lowering the wage ceiling in 2021 are the Yorkshire outfits – Castleford, Huddersfield, Hull FC, Hull KR, Leeds and Wakefield – with the other six opposed to making changes. It was discussed at a club meeting last week. “If anything it needs to go higher, 100 per cent,” added Hankinson, a signing from Swinton midway through 2018.

“I don’t know how the game is going on but there are a lot of battered and broken bodies during their time playing in the sport.”

And Canberra and ex-Wigan forward John Bateman said of Inglis’ move: “This I why the Super League doesn’t need a 15 per cent salary cap decrease. Class signing for the Super League.”

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