Greg Inglis is in the best shape he's ever been in after a State of Origin series, says South Sydney coach Michael Maguire.
Maguire was an assistant at Melbourne under Craig Bellamy when Inglis made his Queensland debut in 2006 and was involved with the Storm until he took up a coaching role with Super League's Wigan Warriors in 2010 before reuniting with the Australian representative at Redfern in 2012.
Inglis struggled with a foot injury at the back end of the 2013 NRL season as the Rabbitohs' premiership push ended at the preliminary final, as it did the year before.
But Maguire has warned the Rabbitohs rivals the 27-year-old is in top condition heading into the final third of the NRL season and the post season.
"I have known Greg for a long time. I have seen him come back from Origin many times and I reckon he is in the best shape since I have known him," Maguire said.
"So we are looking forward now to Greg applying what he does for our team.
"He is in good shape and mentally he is in a very good place as well. He has a young son now and he has got a lot to play for.
"He is really looking forward to what is in front of us now.
"He is always a great person to come back into the team.
"Our Origin boys are back again and their enthusiasm at the moment is something we need to feed off.
"We are back settled again with all the distractions gone. Now it is up to us."
Inglis at the top of his form could help finally end the Rabbitohs' five decade-long premiership drought, with his ability to bring the ball back crucial.
"He is one part of the big picture of what we are building and Greg knows his role and does that very well," Maguire said.
"It is about creating opportunities for Greg through the good things that everyone is doing and vice versa.
"The way Greg brings the ball back, how the team feeds off that as well is important.
"The way when he runs back at a hundred miles per hour and every team stands back and takes a breath ... he is pretty handy to have."
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