NEW Warrington Wolves signing Greg Inglis has warned it could take him up to six weeks to get up to speed on his return to rugby league.
It is almost two years to the day since the Australia international announced his retirement, and he shocked the rugby league world last year by announcing his return with a move to Super League with Warrington Wolves.
He arrived in the UK at the beginning of 2021 and started training soon after passing the relevant quarantine restrictions.
At the Wolves pre-season media day, he said: “I’m confident within myself but, with the pitches over here, there’s a bit more emphasis on the lower end of your body. We’ll wait and see how my first hit-out goes.
“You can train all you like but, until you get that 80-minute performance, on game day especially, you just never know how you’re going to handle it.
“I’ll allow myself that little bit of leeway. If I can get to round three at 100 per cent, I’ll be stoked, if it takes till round six, it takes till round six.
“I’m not putting pressure on myself and neither is the club or coaching staff, you’ve got to keep in mind I have been out of the game for two years. It’s small steps.”
Warrington had a training hit out with Widnes at the Halliwell Jones Stadium last night, and will play their first formal pre-season game against Leigh next Thursday in Chris Hill’s testimonial.
There are some doubts as to whether Inglis will take to the field in the season opener against Castleford on March 28, but coach Steve Price didn’t name the former South Sydney Rabbitohs centre as an injury concern.
The only injury doubt for round one is Matt Davis, according to Price.
Inglis played 265 times in the NRL for Souths and Melbourne Storm, won 39 caps for Australia and represented Queensland 32 times in State of Origin.
He won three NRL Grand Finals in his career, but hasn’t played since starting at centre for Souths against St George-Illawarra on March 21, 2019.
