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NRL legend Greg Inglis enters mental health facility

Friday 24 May 2019 06:50, UK

Retired NRL player Greg Inglis shows his emotion after watching a career highlights package before the round eight NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Brisbane Broncos at ANZ Stadium on May 02, 2019 in Sydney, Australia
Image: Greg Inglis retired in April and took on a community project role with the Rabbitohs

Greg Inglis, the 2009 rugby league world player of the year who retired last month, has entered a care facility to assist with his mental health, the South Sydney Rabbitohs said on Friday.

Inglis won two World Cups with Australia and was part of the Queensland team that dominated State of Origin for a decade before ending his career at the Rabbitohs, who he helped win a first National Rugby League title in 43 years in 2014.

The 32-year-old featured in two matches at the start of this season but 12 years playing one of the most physically demanding of sports had taken its toll on his body and he hung up his boots in April.

The Rabbitohs retained Inglis, one of the best Aboriginal Australian players to have graced the game, to work on the club's community projects and he would have been expected to have a big off-field role in the NRL Indigenous round this weekend.

Greg Inglis of the Rabbitohs holds the trophy up to the crowd as he celebrates victory during the 2014 NRL Grand Final match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on October 5, 2014 in Sydney, Australia.
Image: Greg Inglis helped the Rabbitohs to the 2014 NRL title

"Rabbitohs and Souths Cares ambassador Greg Inglis has entered a facility to undergo treatment to assist with and support his mental health," the club, co-owned by Hollywood actor Russell Crowe, said in a statement on Friday.

"On behalf of Greg and his family, we ask the media and the public to respect their privacy.

"No further comment will be made by the Rabbitohs, Greg, his management or his family at this time."

The news will only intensify the ongoing debate about the responsibility of sports to help their players ease into retirement, a debate revived in Australia by the suicide of former rugby union international Dan Vickerman in 2017.

Willie Tonga and Greg Inglis of the Maroons hold up the trophy after winning game three of the ARL State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on July 7, 2010 in Sydney, Australia
Image: Greg Inglis poses with the ARL State of Origin trophy along with Queensland team-mate Willie Tonga

"The best thing I can say about Greg is that he's getting the support he needs," Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett told reporters on Friday.

Inglis was handed an 18-month good behaviour bond by a New South Wales court in January for drink-driving in October 2018, a charge that cost him a two-Test ban and the captaincy of the Australia team he had only just been awarded.

"I know where I stand in the game as a role model to the community," he said after apologising for his actions.

"I know I did the wrong thing and, while I am disappointed at missing the tour, I accept the penalty."

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