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Greg Inglis - Source: Photosport -
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The rollercoaster season of superstar Greg Inglis has finished
on a high with the Kangaroos and Storm centre winning the Golden
Boot award as the world's best league player.
He was the third successive Melbourne player to claim the coveted
international award, following Billy Slater (2008) and Cameron
Smith (2007).
Inglis finished his 2009 campaign with a bulging trophy cabinet,
also being named Player of the Tournament in the recent Four
Nations series won by Australia.
He was also awarded the Harry Sunderland Medal as the best
Australian player in the Four Nations to add to Melbourne's NRL
premiership, and the Mal Meninga Medal for player of the series in
this year's State of Origin.
On the downside, Inglis was in August charged with assaulting his
girlfriend, Sally Robinson, and was stood down from the Melbourne
side for two matches.
Claiming he was preventing her from harming herself, he will
contest the charge at an April court hearing.
He put that aside to play a pivotal role in the Storm's premiership
triumph this year - scoring a brilliant try and kicking the
game-winning field goal in Melbourne's 23-16 win over
Parramatta.
Inglis said he was honoured to join the elite group of Golden Boot
winners.
"It's an incredible honour," said Inglis, who joins the likes of
Wally Lewis, Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer and Mal Meninga in
claiming the award.
"I'm very humbled by it to be honest.
"To see the names of the players who have won this award before me
makes this very special."
The 22-year-old was lauded ahead of five of the best players in the
world - including previous winners Smith and Slater.
The Golden Boot is the international player of the year award
presented by UK magazine Rugby League World, and was first
presented in 1985.
It's voted on by some of the best ever players, including Lewis and
England's Garry Schofield.
Inglis said he was now looking forward to a break.
"It's been a long tournament and I just can't wait to get back
home and into my own bed," he said.
