Fullback Greg Inglis will lead the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ 2015 premiership defence after being named club captain on Tuesday.
The younger Inglis replaces 30-year-old John Sutton just months after leading the Rabbitohs to a first title in 43 years.
Forced into a part-time captaincy role in 2014 while Sutton sat out stages of the club’s historic season due to injury, Inglis isn’t a stranger to leadership duties after 201 NRL matches and a further 57 games of combined experienced from stints with Queensland and the Kangaroos.
“Greg is very excited about this opportunity to captain the team in a very important season for us where we are the defending premiers,” coach Michael Maguire said in a statement.
“He enjoyed the extra responsibilities last year when John was out injured and he will now get the chance to fill that role for the entire season.
“Greg may be the captain, but as a group we are one, and we are all working towards the one goal at the end of the season.”
According to Maguire, Sutton is in support of the decision to appoint a new captain and will remain a part of South Sydney’s leadership group.
“John is comfortable with the club’s decision and supports the change,” he said.
“He knows his role within the team won’t change much either in terms of what is expected of him as a senior player and a leader amongst the squad.
“He’s played more first grade games for this Club than anyone in history and he is still learning in his transition to the forward pack.
“We have a great segment of leaders within the group and we’re all working together to ensure we push towards our goals this season.”
Inglis will be thrust into his new role next month when the Rabbitohs travel to the UK to face Super League winners St Helens in the World Club Challenge in Manchester before the NRL season kicks off in early March.
Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.
