Greg Inglis has few regrets after one of the great rugby league careers with Melbourne, South Sydney, Queensland, Australia and the Indigenous All-Stars.
But the former Maroons captain says missing the opportunity to play alongside his cousin Preston Campbell for the All-Stars left him heartbroken at the time.
Inglis missed his chance when he was ruled out of the first All-Stars match, featuring Campbell, with injury.
While missing that chance still burns inside Inglis, he will get a small slice of redemption when he joins Campbell, Mal Meninga and Steve Renouf at the Preston Campbell Icons For Change Breakfast at the Sofitel Broadbeach on February 21.
Corporate enquiries can be made via: matthew@pcfoundation.org.au
While Inglis spoke of his disappointment at not playing All-Stars with Campbell, the basis for his feelings are not selfish – he just desperately wanted to be alongside “Presto” to support him as his dream of an Indigenous All-Stars team became a reality.
“Probably one of the biggest regrets I have is not playing with a family member in the most important game of his career,” Inglis said.
“'I was so heartbroken not to have been able to play with Preston.”
Inglis did not have to wait long for his All-Stars debut, and fittingly it was Campbell that helped made the occasion even more special.
“'Preston came and spoke to us at All Stars and talked about how since retirement he is getting out more in the communities, we are only scratching the surface,” Inglis recalled
“This game wouldn't have come about if it wasn't for Preston Campbell and his idea.
“It started back in 2008 when the Indigenous side played, at the World Cup, and he made it happen.”
Inglis said his admiration for his cousin as a rugby league player and driver of change in local communities made him leap at the chance to be involved in the Preston Campbell Foundation’s Icons For Change Breakfast.
“You see what Preston has done. He is a role model for all of us,” Inglis said. “He uses his profile and his name the best he can, and the amount of work he does in community is unbelievable.”
