page_title: Greg Inglis
section_title: 2009
hierarchical_section_title: Greg Inglis / Professional playing career / 2009
caption_attribution_description: Johnathon Thurston, the best player in the world, and Greg Inglis, another of the best players in the world, at training for State of Origin, Cairns, Australia.
context_page_description: Gregory Paul Inglis, also known by the nickname of "G.I.", is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for Warrington Wolves in the English Super League, previously having played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative outside back, he previously played for the Melbourne Storm, with whom he won two grand finals, a Clive Churchill Medal and the Golden Boot Award; he is an indigenous Australian. Inglis was a versatile back, having played in several positions during his career. He originally played on the wing or in the centres for the Storm, occasionally filling in at fullback when injuries demanded. Between 2007 and early 2009 he played at five-eighth for the Melbourne Storm before he switched to centre when Brett Finch arrived at the club, where he played for the remainder of his time there until the end of 2010. Inglis' representative matches for Queensland and Australia have been as a wing, centre, and fullback.
context_section_description: At the start of the 2009 season Inglis attracted a lot of attention due to how much weight he'd gained since the previous season, having bulked from 99 kg up to 110 kg, making him one of the biggest players in the game. Inglis scored the first try of the season for 2009 against St George Illawarra as well as being one of the best on ground. Inglis scored the match winning field goal to win the game for the Storm, 17–16 at Olympic Park. In doing so, he had not only ruined Wayne Bennett's last game in charge of the Brisbane Broncos but also his first game coaching the St George Illawarra Dragons, by scoring the match winning point. The Storm had a shaky start to the season, going by a win-loss pattern until Round 7, which they drew 14–14 with the New Zealand Warriors at Olympic Park. In Round 8 the Storm extracted grand final revenge on Premiers the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with Inglis scoring the 22–8 win at Brookvale Oval. During this time, Storm coach Craig Bellamy experimented by putting Cameron Smith at five-eighth, Inglis back in the centres and Ryan Hinchcliffe at hooker. However, after Brett Finch was released by the Parramatta Eels, the Storm signed him and made him their first choice five-eighth, putting Inglis back at his preferred centres position. Inglis was selected for Australia in the 2009 Anzac Test match against New Zealand on 8 May 2009. Inglis was part of an all-Queensland backline, including Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Justin Hodges, Israel Folau, Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston. This feat had not been achieved since 1924. Australia won 38–10, with the backline scoring all the points. In April 2009, Inglis was named in the preliminary 25-man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin match for 2009, and was subsequently picked at centre for the opening State of Origin match. In Game 1, Inglis scored 2 tries, as Queensland won 28–18. Meanwhile, the Storm maintained their position in the Top 4 of the NRL competition. 
  In Game 2, Inglis scored again as Queensland recorded a 24–14 win over New South Wales, becoming the first team to win 4 consecutive Origin series. In Game II, Inglis was taken off the field in the first half after receiving a punch to the face from Trent Barrett. In Game 3, New South Wales won 28–16, in a game that featured a memorable brawl in the 79th minute. Inglis received the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series that year in recognition of his efforts during the 2009 State of Origin series. After Karmichael Hunt shockingly signed with the new AFL club the Gold Coast, Inglis revealed he wouldn't mind "having a crack" at AFL. This created concern that Inglis may make a switch, but Inglis made it clear on the Footy Show that he will fulfill his contract with the Melbourne Storm. On 10 August 2009, Inglis was charged with recklessly causing injury and the unlawful assault of his girlfriend Sally Robinson the previous day, and was indefinitely suspended from playing with the Melbourne Storm. Inglis was cleared to return to play with the Melbourne Storm by the club's board and the NRL on 27 August. Inglis pleaded not guilty to the charges, with the case adjourned for a contest hearing on 12 April 2010. After his court hearing was postponed, Inglis made his comeback against the Sydney Roosters, scoring a double in the Storm's final game 38–4 win at Olympic Park. At the 2009 Dally M Awards Inglis was named centre of the year and representative player of the year. In the finals, the Storm comfortably defeated premiers the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 40–12, before defeating the Brisbane Broncos 40–10, in which Inglis scored a hat-trick. The Storm qualified for their fourth consecutive grand final, against the Parramatta Eels. The Eels were the last team to make it to four consecutive grand finals in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984. In the 2009 NRL Grand Final against the Parramatta Eels, Inglis scored a try from a Cooper Cronk bomb and kicked a final field goal in the Storm's 23–16 win. From this victory, Inglis become a dual-premiership player as the Storm capped off t
caption: Inglis training with Johnathan Thurston for the Queensland State of Origin team in 2009
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