Souths’ standout player set to retire prematurely: Inglis announces early retirement decision.
Greg Inglis will conclude his representative career this season, and he will retire fully at the conclusion of his current contract with South Sydney in 2020. He shared this decision with Rabbitohs members via a video on the club’s website, revealing it was a choice he had been contemplating since November.
“This is a decision I’ve arrived at independently… something I’ve been reflecting on for the past two and a half months — I’ll be hanging up my boots at the end of 2020,” he stated. “While I’ll be departing from the game, I intend to remain a part of this club for a considerable time after my retirement.”
In a surprising announcement, the renowned fullback turned centre disclosed that he would not be available for selection for Queensland or Australia in 2020.
“For the next two years, I will devote myself entirely to this esteemed club. 2019 will mark my final representative season, meaning the following year will be focused solely on the mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs,” he explained. “It’s been eight years since I joined this club, and throughout every moment and every season, amidst various coaches and staff changes, one constant has been the unwavering passion you, the fans, have shown us week in and week out.”
Having achieved nearly everything in the sport, the 32-year-old has an illustrious career history. He secured two grand final victories with the Storm before the titles were revoked due to salary cap violations. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in guiding the Rabbitohs to their long-awaited title triumph in 2014, earning individual accolades such as the Clive Churchill Medal and the Golden Boot. Moreover, he has been a fixture in the Australian Test side and the Queensland Maroons since 2006, even assuming the captaincy of his state last year.
Despite his remarkable achievements, two notable distinctions absent from his impressive resume are captaining the Kangaroos in a Test match and winning the Dally M Medal. With 264 NRL games under his belt, he could potentially reach the 300-game milestone before retiring.
In light of his impending departure, the Rabbitohs will undoubtedly be motivated to bid farewell to their longstanding leader with another premiership in their iconic cardinal and myrtle colors.
