# 274: Greg Inglis (Part B)

An episode of [The Howie Games](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1146329262), 29 Jul 2026, 33 min.

Audio: https://enrichment.soundstack.com/4vjqq8/episode.flightcast.com/svidpb5i00z9t86i7y0o6927.mp3

GI is an absolute Champion! He is one of rugby league's greatest-ever players, but this is a raw, funny and deeply honest conversation about the moments that shaped his remarkable life and career. There have been ups, and downs and he goes through it ALL in admirable fashion. And for that, we are so thankful! From premierships, Origin dominance and unforgettable highlights, to the pressure of elite sport, life after football and the people who kept him grounded, GI opens up like never before. We also shine a light on Greg's incredible work through the Goanna Academy and its Stick With It campaign, helping bring vital mental health education and support to communities across Australia. Donate or get your merchandise TODAY! One of the game's all-time greats. One unforgettable conversation. Thanks GI! *** Follow the Howie Games on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehowiegamespod/ Follow the Howie Games on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehowiegames See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:02] Listener Production.
[0:07] You are listening to episode 274 of the Howie Games Part B featuring Greg Inglis.
[0:11] Remember to please check out the Goanna Academy and see if you can help Greg and his team.
[0:17] On we go.
[0:19] What does being a Marones representative mean to Greg Inglis?
[0:25] Well, I always talk about two uniforms that we always walk in every single day.
[0:31] One uniform I'm wearing, you know, you're wearing your casuals, but that's still a uniform.
[0:34] Yep.
[0:35] Your first uniform is yourself, your DNA, and your family history.
[0:39] So you always got to carry that with pride.
[0:41] You put your time and effort into that first.
[0:43] And your second uniform represents, you know, the organization's who you're representing.
[0:48] Talk to the kids about it.
[0:50] So you may not realise this, mental health may not matter to you, but whatever with delivery, hopefully it has an effect on you in the long run.
[0:59] But if you leave school grounds and you do something in community, everyone knows you.
[1:02] Everyone knows what school you go to because you're wearing a uniform.
[1:05] You take that away, you represent your family.
[1:08] So for me, representing Queensland, it was representing my family no matter where I walked.
[1:14] One game there, I think 2008, might have been 2009,
[1:18] Mark Gasney at World's Best Centre at the time, New South Wales.
[1:22] I'm marking up against him.
[1:24] Took me to school.
[1:25] I was like a little kid playing against a man.
[1:27] Really?
[1:28] Yeah.
[1:28] It was embarrassing.
[1:30] I walked off with a head down, just wanted to crawl under a rock.
[1:36] And I just...
[1:38] You know, there's not much as a parent could say in that situation because, you know, but I could sense.
[1:45] It wouldn't say embarrassment or disappointment, but I can just sense it's like, oh, what can I do to motivate him?
[1:52] And I can sense that.
[1:53] You're sure, man?
[1:54] Is your dad?
[1:55] My dad and my nan and my pop, you know, I just didn't want that embarrassment.
[1:58] I didn't want to walk off and people walking down the street and saying, oh, your son or your grandson had a shocker.
[2:04] Wow.
[2:05] So I just took that.
[2:07] And that's how I guess I've always lived my life.
[2:10] It's like always talk about and mention about the two uniforms.
[2:15] First one is your family name, you know, your family history and where it is now.
[2:19] Even when, you know, get married and change your names, you still represent the original.
[2:27] So we mentioned that eight-year unbeaten streak, which has got some of the most storied names in the history of Queensland football.
[2:36] Like I had Wally Lewis on this show, and he talked about your team with yourself and one of the Melbourne Spawn boys, you know, with Billy and Cam.
[2:47] Eight straight Origin wins.
[2:51] You've played a lot of football with a lot of teams.
[2:53] What was so special about that general Queensland group?
[2:58] Darren Lockyer is one of my all-time favorites.
[3:00] Darren Lockyer.
[3:01] Yeah.
[3:01] If not the, yeah, I would say he's my number one.
[3:05] And, you know, I made my debut for him in 2006.
[3:09] I only played 12 games a year prior.
[3:12] That made my origin debut.
[3:14] Which meant what to you?
[3:15] Oh, man, looking back on it now, I just didn't know what to expect.
[3:20] You know, I'm sitting in the rooms with Darren Lockyer.
[3:23] You know, even though I played with Kevin Smith, still looked up to him.
[3:26] Right.
[3:27] Petro Seven and Siva, you know.
[3:29] I loved him.
[3:30] Seven and Siva.
[3:31] Yeah, mate, unbelievable.
[3:33] Steve Price, you know, really good.
[3:35] I was one of six debutantes in that first game.
[3:42] By 2005, lost game three to Sida with Joey Johns' unbelievable game.
[3:48] Johns chances the kick.
[3:50] There's plenty of chases.
[3:51] They've got a try out of it.
[3:53] There's a try for Gasnia.
[3:55] Four origin matches, four tries for Mark Gasnia.
[4:01] And Minichello can't get a hand on it.
[4:03] The siren has gone.
[4:04] Thurston loses it.
[4:06] It's very scrappy.
[4:06] It's over.
[4:07] New South Wales, they have won 32 to 10.
[4:11] Anyway, he, Darren Lockyer, again got put on notice, said he's going to lose Captain C if he doesn't come back and win this series and just be dropped from it.
[4:21] So there was a lot riding on 2006.
[4:26] But getting that phone call and going into camp, you know, I just didn't really understood it.
[4:34] It's a different beast and you've got to mentally prepare, tell you different to your week in, week out, weekend jobs.
[4:42] Why?
[4:43] Is it that much better or fiercer or stronger or tougher?
[4:45] Well, you're good the best, right?
[4:47] So you're playing with the best.
[4:49] You know, Melbourne Storm do it good.
[4:51] South Sydney do it really good.
[4:56] And other teams do it, you know, in a way, some weeks.
[5:00] But all they do is concentrate on your job.
[5:03] You do your job right, you know your role, you execute it.
[5:06] The rest is a flow-on effect.
[5:08] And that's what I learnt in Origin.
[5:10] Here we go.
[5:11] There's Lockyer.
[5:12] 70-odd kilos, yeah.
[5:14] Yeah.
[5:14] I think this could be your origin debut.
[5:17] Lockyer gets it away.
[5:18] Picked up by Inglis.
[5:20] Inglis for the corner.
[5:23] Inglis, I think, has scored.
[5:25] Well, there's not much to you there, is there?
[5:26] What a great take by Greg Inglis.
[5:27] None.
[5:28] But we get to, like, Origin Hay Day, which is just, like, you guys, that one eight in a row.
[5:35] Let's have a bit more, a bit more, look a bit more G.I., Tommy.
[5:37] Kamali made it with Simpson.
[5:39] Short side play, Cameron Smith.
[5:41] It's a try for Queensland.
[5:43] Here they come, Inglis.
[5:47] Inglis has scored his fifth try.
[5:50] Five metres out from the line.
[5:52] Smith fires it away.
[5:53] Thurston goes out.
[5:54] Here's Greg Inglis looking for 17 and he gets it.
[5:58] The leading try score out.
[6:01] Queensland are carving them up at the moment.
[6:03] Inglis plays it slowly.
[6:06] Scott takes it ahead.
[6:08] He's been magnificent tonight.
[6:11] Queensland have won their eighth consecutive series.
[6:16] It is a wonderful Australian sports achievement.
[6:20] That group...
[6:22] I don't follow rugby league close enough, Greg, but I presume it's seen as one of the, well, one of the greatest Australian sporting teams.
[6:28] To have that type of dominance, I don't mean rugby league teams, I mean sporting teams.
[6:31] The success you had, like eight straight Origin Series wins, some as favourites, some as underdogs, some from behind, some in front, an extraordinary football team.
[6:40] Extraordinary.
[6:41] You're exactly right.
[6:42] You know, when you go back, look at that and what we've accomplished,
[6:47] It's pretty surreal, you know, and to think that I was part of those series, you know, you've sort of got to pinch yourself a little bit because I've got to live out my dream.
[6:57] I've got to play with the greats.
[6:58] And what do people say to you in Queensland?
[7:00] When you're in Queensland, you're out and about doing one of these trips, do people come and say, oh, mate, I was at this Origin game or this is what it meant to me?
[7:06] How does that make you feel?
[7:07] Even in New South Wales.
[7:08] Right.
[7:08] Even in New South Wales.
[7:10] That's what they say, I wish you played for us.
[7:12] No, it's like, yeah, it's like, you know, I was at this game when you did this.
[7:16] You know, one thing, you know, I don't remember games if we're sitting here talking about it, but when I could see video, like I'm a visual learner.
[7:23] Yeah.
[7:24] I would tell you exactly what happened.
[7:25] Yeah, straight away you said that was.
[7:26] Yeah, yeah.
[7:27] So when people come talk to me, I was like, oh, yeah, is that right?
[7:32] That's what happened.
[7:33] Yeah.
[7:34] So how did you find out that you were going to be captain of Queensland?
[7:37] Yeah.
[7:38] Um, we just played, I was found out the week, um, before and I got named, yeah, we got named captain and we just played the Cowboys, um, up in Townsville.
[7:53] And then one of my really, two of my really good mates, one of my best mates from year two, and the other one's another good mate since year eight.
[8:01] And they were up there at the time, and we just went to Maggie Island.
[8:04] Magnetic Island?
[8:05] Yeah, we went to Maggie Island, and then I went into camp the next, on the Sunday.
[8:08] So we'll just say we'll play on the Friday, did recovery, went to Maggie Island for the Sunday and recorded a late flight.
[8:14] Actually, no, it was a Monday, quite a flight Monday down there.
[8:17] So we spent a day having Maggie Island, just us three, and just reminiscent of what we spoke about, from juniors all the way to where we are now.
[8:25] And then you're captain of the state.
[8:27] Yeah, you got captain of the state.
[8:28] Greg Inglis leads for the first time, 13th captain of Queensland.
[8:35] 31st game, he equals Wally and Brad Fittler.
[8:39] No, it was a very, very proud moment.
[8:41] You know, that's obviously being named captain, you've got a duty of care.
[8:46] Well, every player's got a duty of care when you put on a jersey.
[8:49] You've just got to represent it the best way.
[8:52] One thing I learned about captaincy and leadership
[8:55] is you're there for a reason, that you're there because obviously you believe in yourself, you live the way you want to and for others to follow.
[9:07] So I wasn't a big talker.
[9:08] I was just led by actions and then say a few little things.
[9:12] And I didn't differ from that.
[9:14] I didn't do anything different from it.
[9:15] You know, you've got your other leaders in the group that can be the speakers.
[9:18] You know, I was talking about South Sydney at John Sutton and Sam Burgess.
[9:23] You know, Sam Burgess was a massive talker.
[9:26] Sato was just like, just a local, just massive, red and green through and through.
[9:30] Everyone loved him, respected him.
[9:32] And then I just led by a few little words, like key points.
[9:37] Pretty much just do your job.
[9:39] You mentioned South Sydney.
[9:40] You mentioned Bellamy and Stewart.
[9:42] And then it was the drought breaking.
[9:44] South Sydney had been out of the comp.
[9:46] Russell Crowe comes back.
[9:47] I think it was like, was it 1970 or something since they'd won a premiership.
[9:50] Yeah, 43 years.
[9:51] 43 years with Wayne Bennett.
[9:54] GI's going to score.
[9:56] He's going to put another nail in the coffin.
[9:59] And the goanna crawls down to the northern end.
[10:02] South Sydney players leaping on top.
[10:08] We talked about Craig.
[10:09] Tried to get Wayne on the show a couple of times, including my boss wrote his book, Steve Crawley, who you would know from Fox, wrote Wayne's book.
[10:17] And I still haven't managed to track Wayne down.
[10:20] I'm a little bit scared of him as well, to be honest, G.I.
[10:22] So if you put in a good word for me, but what was it about Wayne that there's probably only one who has a better record than Craig as an NRL coach, and that's Wayne?
[10:32] Yeah.
[10:32] Yeah, I've been...
[10:35] Been very fortunate and lucky enough to be coached by some of the game's greatest coaches.
[10:43] Similar in different ways.
[10:48] But I think what gets them both is that I'm always talking about the care factor.
[10:54] I think that's what...
[10:56] that they both have.
[10:57] You know, Wayne manages players.
[11:02] He knows how to manage them right.
[11:03] He knows who to, I guess they both do, and they both know who to press, who to ease off, and who needs a tough love.
[11:12] But I think, you know, when I was coming towards my retirement, I went and seen Wayne pre-season.
[11:20] I said, wait, I think I'm going to retire.
[11:21] He goes, no, you're not.
[11:23] That's it.
[11:23] I was like, all right, see ya.
[11:25] Right, get out of office.
[11:26] He goes, listen, get through preseason and we'll see where you're at.
[11:30] Right.
[11:30] He got through preseason.
[11:31] I was like, I'm feeling pretty good.
[11:32] I'm feeling all right.
[11:33] And then because at this time I was like, I think I'm done.
[11:37] You know, I still had two and a half years left on my contract.
[11:39] Then I was like, I think I'm done.
[11:41] Just falling in love with it.
[11:43] You know, that was basically it.
[11:45] Anyway, I got to round three and then round four.
[11:47] I was like, wait, I'm...
[11:49] I'll call it.
[11:50] He goes, yep, no worries.
[11:52] Right.
[11:52] Yeah, he just knows how to manage people.
[11:56] You know, if I would have pulled, I reckon I would have regretted it if I'd retired in the preseason and not actually get through it to see where I could, if I got through it, if I got the enjoyment back again.
[12:07] But, yeah, looking back on it now, I think he's...
[12:12] He obviously knows what he's doing.
[12:13] One of the greats of rugby league, Greg Inglis, has announced his immediate retirement.
[12:18] At his best, Inglis was unstoppable, big, fast, a destructive runner.
[12:22] But today the Rabideaus legend finally gave in.
[12:26] The battered body, which now gives him so much pain, bringing to an end an unforgettable career.
[12:32] Over 15 years, Greg Inglis has never wanted to be in the spotlight.
[12:36] But it was unavoidable today.
[12:37] A few words with his girlfriend Elise, and then it was time for a giant of league to say goodbye.
[12:43] What a career.
[12:45] Um...
[12:47] It's unfortunate that it's come into an end.
[12:51] Inglis could have played on, but amazingly he walked away from the last 18 months of his deal and $1.5 million.
[12:59] Money doesn't make you happy.
[13:01] The people around you don't make you happy.
[13:04] The high points were many for G.I.
[13:07] Three title wins, including a drought breaker with the Rabideaus, where he let his trademark Goanna roam free.
[13:13] He dazzled with his balance and pure speed when no one could get near him.
[13:17] What a try!
[13:19] Greg Inglis, new superstar!
[13:22] G.I., reading about you, there was not many other sports or teams that at some stage you weren't linked to.
[13:30] Yes!
[13:30] So I just want to run by a couple of these.
[13:34] AFL.
[13:36] You were there.
[13:37] True.
[13:37] Right, true.
[13:38] So with Melbourne, I love Melbourne so much.
[13:41] Yep.
[13:42] I love the environment Melbourne Storms created that I wanted to stay in Melbourne in 2010.
[13:48] Right.
[13:49] So went over and had about three meetings with Essendon and James Hurd.
[13:54] Just you and Hurdy?
[13:56] Yeah, and the club and their performance and my manager.
[13:58] Right.
[13:59] Well, tell me about their meetings.
[14:00] Yeah.
[14:01] So found out very quick how much running they do.
[14:07] But, no, those meetings, like, it was pretty much all set to go and had a change of mind and I ended up going, obviously, to the south in the end.
[14:17] But Essendon were open to you?
[14:18] Yeah, absolutely.
[14:20] Absolutely they was.
[14:20] I was, yeah, in those meetings with Verdi, the performance thing is going through all the basic stuff as about this kind of player.
[14:31] Right.
[14:32] Yeah.
[14:32] How do you reckon you would have gone?
[14:34] Look, I reckon I would have been all right.
[14:36] I do too.
[14:37] I've been all right.
[14:38] They wanted to play me full forward.
[14:39] Full forward.
[14:40] They wanted to play you full forward.
[14:41] Yeah, yeah.
[14:42] Oh, mate.
[14:43] So.
[14:43] Like, well done what you did with the rabbits and you won on that story premiership, but I would have paid money to see Gen.
[14:48] I have full forward of the bombers.
[14:50] Mate, yeah.
[14:51] It was, yeah, three meetings with them.
[14:52] It was, yeah, it was almost a done deal.
[14:55] Wow.
[14:56] Yeah.
[14:57] Okay.
[14:57] That's how close it was.
[14:58] That's AFL.
[14:59] Union?
[15:00] Union, yeah.
[15:01] Did they want a piece of you as well?
[15:03] Union was the Waratahs and Reds.
[15:07] It was both of them.
[15:07] Right.
[15:08] Yeah.
[15:08] Did you meet with them as well?
[15:09] No.
[15:10] No, no, no.
[15:11] I didn't meet with them.
[15:12] And then NFL.
[15:14] NFL as well?
[15:15] Yeah, Giants.
[15:17] Giants was linked up to it.
[15:18] As in the New York Giants?
[15:19] Yeah.
[15:21] So what was that?
[15:22] How did that take place?
[15:23] I just didn't really go anywhere.
[15:25] I just... Did they get in touch?
[15:27] No offence to the American sport or any sport over there.
[15:32] It just didn't interest me.
[15:34] But did they get in touch with your people and say you were just having a conversation?
[15:37] They got in touch with the NFL scouts here in Australia.
[15:40] Right.
[15:41] Yeah.
[15:41] And they got in touch with my manager and...
[15:44] You just pass it on and I think that was, again, another three conversations.
[15:48] But all the way through my career, it was like, what do you think about going over there?
[15:54] So we spoke AFL, Union, NFL.
[15:57] I missed anything.
[15:58] Did it major league baseball or cricket?
[16:01] Basketball, didn't it?
[16:02] Basketball?
[16:02] Yeah, basketball, didn't it?
[16:03] Oh, come on.
[16:04] What happened with basketball?
[16:07] It was South Melbourne, Dragons.
[16:09] Was it the Dragons?
[16:10] Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[16:11] Joe Ingles at the time?
[16:13] Yeah.
[16:13] Just to go there and watch them while I was living down here.
[16:16] Right.
[16:16] And what'd they say?
[16:18] But I just asked, did I have any interest in basketball?
[16:22] I used to play basketball at school and played rep in that.
[16:26] But, yeah, my heart's always been with league.
[16:29] Okay.
[16:29] I haven't missed any others, though.
[16:30] Not soccer?
[16:31] No?
[16:32] No, no, no.
[16:33] No tennis?
[16:33] No soccer?
[16:34] Right.
[16:34] I reckon I wouldn't be.
[16:35] I don't reckon I would take the field in soccer.
[16:37] I could have seen you.
[16:38] I reckon I would be in red card all the time.
[16:40] I could have seen you a full forwarder, Essendon.
[16:44] A quick shout-out from me and all the team for all the love you have sent our way, the comments, the passionate viewpoints, and all the listens to our new series, The Big Five, featuring the chief, Jason Dunstall.
[16:55] The Big Five.
[16:56] The good news is we are currently working on Series 2, which we hope to bring to you really soon.
[17:02] If you haven't listened to The Big Five,
[17:04] Basically, it's the conversations you have with your crew about the topics we all care about.
[17:08] The Big Five Aussie sporting performances, sporting goats, Aussie songs featuring star guest Paul Kelly.
[17:15] Possibly my favourite episode of all time of the Howie Games.
[17:17] Bakery items.
[17:18] Yep.
[17:19] Big Five bakery items, old school TV shows and plenty more.
[17:23] If you had to choose, you walk into your bakery, a pie...
[17:28] or a sausage roll, because I couldn't put both in.
[17:30] That was hogging the limelight.
[17:32] I could only go with one.
[17:33] If it's from a bakery, I'd probably go the pie.
[17:36] I've gone the sausage roll.
[17:37] That's fair.
[17:38] No argument.
[17:39] But again, there's rules.
[17:41] It needs to be half pork.
[17:44] Half pork?
[17:45] Half pork, half beef is what you're after, Chief.
[17:47] How do you get that guarantee?
[17:48] Well, you have to ask questions, Chief.
[17:50] Oh, yeah.
[17:51] And if I'm working, be on the counter.
[17:52] Yeah, yeah, it's half that and half that.
[17:54] Exactly what you want.
[17:55] The Big Big Five.
[17:57] Six episodes of The Big Five with the Chieftain, Jason Dunstall, is in your Howie Games feed now.
[18:03] Join the revolution.
[18:10] Back to Greg.
[18:11] So we started the conversation with the GoAnna Academy and you talked about alcohol, you talked about rehab, you talked about mental health, and you're passing those lessons on through the GoAnna Academy now and great credit to you for that.
[18:26] What happened in your journey?
[18:28] You retired from football?
[18:31] Did you just start drinking too much?
[18:34] Were you...
[18:36] I didn't know how to cope to be honest I didn't know how to cope With retirement?
[18:40] With the normality of it like I've never been taught
[18:44] Corporate, never been, you know, even with laughing at Craig about tech savvy.
[18:49] I'm not tech savvy.
[18:50] No one taught me computers.
[18:51] Yeah.
[18:52] Excel's like, no one didn't know how to write a formal email.
[18:58] See, for me, I thought corporate and being in sponsorship was about taking people out for lunches and that's what I've seen.
[19:07] Yep.
[19:08] And I thought it was like, just move them.
[19:09] Doesn't mean that I'm not...
[19:11] but I don't need a drink, you know.
[19:13] I just didn't understand, didn't know the barrier, the break of it.
[19:18] And so I came stuck in that world and, you know, I just wasn't, again, didn't ask for help, didn't say that I had a problem.
[19:29] So what was your problem?
[19:30] When I knew.
[19:31] What did you know?
[19:32] I just knew because, you know,
[19:35] There was five days there in my life where I don't remember.
[19:37] So what happened?
[19:38] I just drunk, just drunk, drunk myself.
[19:41] Numbness, didn't want to feel anything, just rocked up, thought I was good.
[19:45] You know, Wayne said keep it some kind of normality, some kind of routine, and I never had that, so I didn't know how to cope.
[19:52] And then went back home, detoxed for two weeks.
[19:56] You mentioned that about the hard things.
[19:59] Tell me about detox.
[20:00] People, I'll be honest with you, Greg, the...
[20:06] The episodes of this podcast that impact are when high-profile people talk about their success and then some of them, like yourself, have experienced tough times.
[20:16] And when they talk about those tough times, the amount of people that message me will come out and say, shit, I'm feeling like that.
[20:21] And if Greg Inglis, in your position, went through that and came through it, it made me think, okay, okay.
[20:29] I can tackle it as well.
[20:31] I was on prescription drugs at the time, again, just in the number of pain because I couldn't sleep.
[20:35] Right.
[20:36] So I was just going to sleep on prescription drugs and then mixed up with alcohol.
[20:41] It was very slippery slope, very quick.
[20:43] So what is two weeks without it?
[20:45] You talked how difficult it was.
[20:46] Yeah.
[20:47] Physically, what does it do?
[20:48] Well, anyone out there who's doing dry July and cut out sugar in their life, the first two weeks is the worst.
[20:53] Yep.
[20:53] So imagine that there times 10.
[20:55] Okay.
[20:55] So I'm in my sister's spare bedroom, don't know if I'm hot, don't know if I'm cold, having nightmares, shaking, too hot.
[21:03] Yeah.
[21:03] Couldn't leave the house, can't eat.
[21:05] It's like little biscuits, little bites.
[21:07] Powerade trying to keep my hydration.
[21:09] I think I lost like eight, ten kilos in that two weeks.
[21:13] You know, it's like beds turns yellow, your sheets turn yellow because you just saw this toxic stuff just coming out of your body.
[21:21] It's coming out of your body and just horrendous.
[21:24] It stinks, like you stink.
[21:27] And then you get up.
[21:29] barely just to get to a shower, get up and have a shower, and then all you want to do, don't want to see anybody.
[21:35] Don't anybody know that you're there.
[21:38] My sister-in-law comes knocking on the door, see if I'm all right, just to check in because my teeth are shattering and I'm just really cold.
[21:46] And then I'm like, can you put the air con on 616?
[21:49] I'm like boiling.
[21:52] And then that was two weeks straight.
[21:55] So in that two weeks, deeply personal question.
[21:57] Yeah.
[21:58] In that two weeks...
[22:01] I'm sure every part of you wanted to have a drink or take a substance.
[22:05] What stopped you at that point?
[22:08] Actually, I didn't want to have a drink.
[22:11] I didn't want to have anything.
[22:14] Right.
[22:15] Like I just knew if I was right then at that point in my life, if I knew I was going to get that drink or substance, I'd be dead.
[22:26] I'll just go back through square one or I'll be six feet under.
[22:30] And I just knew I couldn't do that.
[22:32] And then when I came out of rehab, I never drunk for like six months.
[22:37] What's rehab?
[22:38] Rehab is a facility where I went into.
[22:43] And that was the second part of my life, in my life, where I was scared.
[22:49] What were you scared of?
[22:50] Scared of finding out things about myself.
[22:53] Like?
[22:54] Like where, why am I having these problems?
[22:57] What's wrong with me?
[22:59] Am I so different to anybody else?
[23:04] Like biggest one was, yeah, what's wrong with me?
[23:09] There's nothing wrong with you.
[23:11] There's nothing wrong with me.
[23:12] I'm just wide different and I've got a different coping mechanism.
[23:16] So when I was in there, it just goes back into my trauma.
[23:22] I have a problem with grief.
[23:25] And I'll be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and bipolar 2.
[23:28] So I went mood to bipolar 2.
[23:30] It's a mood disorder.
[23:32] And when I'm on my high, because I knew how to mask it.
[23:37] Well, I didn't know how to mask it.
[23:37] I didn't know I was doing it.
[23:39] It was training.
[23:40] It was doing things that I love.
[23:42] But then when I retired, I wouldn't say taken away, but when I retired...
[23:47] I couldn't find my high.
[23:48] So my high was my drinking, prescription drugs.
[23:52] And then that was, I couldn't really balance myself out.
[23:55] So what do we, you mentioned bipolar.
[23:58] Yeah.
[23:59] What do you get taught to learn to live with a situation like that?
[24:03] One thing or two things actually is boundaries.
[24:07] You can't give yourself to all because then you fall back into that low mood and then falls into depression.
[24:15] Another thing is word no.
[24:18] Just saying the word no.
[24:19] To yourself or to other people?
[24:20] Other people, to myself.
[24:23] I got to a point in my life where, yeah, I enjoy a drink, but I know when to switch it off now.
[24:28] So I've learnt that along my journey.
[24:31] You know, going to academy is six years young.
[24:33] And, you know, eight years ago, I wouldn't be walking, you know.
[24:40] So...
[24:41] Learning how to cope and putting things in place is like, all right, what's the things I enjoy?
[24:46] I enjoy motorbike riding.
[24:50] I'll go on a couple of rides on my Harley.
[24:53] I like golf, but I also like going back home to my Maxwell and being around a really good core group of friends.
[25:00] Yep.
[25:01] And you need to filter out the bullshit in your life.
[25:04] Hmm.
[25:05] Know who's in the people you can really trust, like your core group of people here.
[25:09] They can call you out on the crap that you're doing.
[25:12] Celebrate good times with you, not wanting anything in return.
[25:16] But also be there in dark times.
[25:18] They may not have an answer.
[25:20] They may not have anything, advice to give you.
[25:22] But it's just having them in your presence makes me feel better.
[25:28] And I'll just learn how to do that and put things in place for myself because I was giving myself to everyone.
[25:36] So just two more questions on that while you're talking about it, mate, and I appreciate your honesty and your openness.
[25:41] When a, it's not the right term, but let's just say when a normal punter goes in rehab, he's a normal punter, she's a normal punter, they're going through rehab, no one knows how they are.
[25:55] When a,
[25:57] A rugby league star goes into rehab with other people.
[26:03] I'm sure there's people in there, that's Greg Inglis.
[26:08] So how humbling is a situation like that?
[26:11] Or is that not the right word?
[26:14] I guess, no, no, no, you're right.
[26:17] Yeah.
[26:19] When you're in there, it's like you're too embarrassed to be in there, you know.
[26:25] But then after like two days that's been in there, you all want the same thing, better yourself.
[26:31] Great answer.
[26:33] You know, so in there, I was just Greg.
[26:38] I wasn't Greg Inglis.
[26:39] I wasn't GI.
[26:40] Just Greg.
[26:41] I was just another person looking for treatment.
[26:44] And that's how I got treated.
[26:46] You know, if I didn't walk in through those doors, I'll go back there now and do workshops with them.
[26:54] Yeah, mate, it's a wholesome moment for me.
[26:58] Wholesome is a great word.
[26:58] I was going to say it must be incredibly rewarding.
[27:00] Yeah, it is.
[27:01] And then going back there and seeing, you know, the staff that helped me along my journey and seeing how proud they are of me of where I am now, you know, that's more rewarding to me.
[27:12] So that's Greg within the facility.
[27:15] As soon as you walk out of that door of that facility, you're Greg Inglis on the front page of the paper.
[27:21] Yep.
[27:22] So what's that process like?
[27:24] I just learned how to deal with it, to be honest.
[27:26] How do you deal with it?
[27:28] Well, if you stay strong and true to your values and you act right, well, then nothing can be said about you.
[27:36] What I'm going in the last six years, and I'm being open, I'm being raw, as you can tell, and honest with it, you can go and write the paper, you can go to this here, but you look at podcasts, you look at the How We Game podcast.
[27:48] I've already said that.
[27:50] Yeah, okay.
[27:51] You can't write anything about me.
[27:53] Yep.
[27:54] I've been out there, I said it, I'm telling you the truth.
[27:57] The life that I'm living now, the struggles I've been through, what I'm doing now, and, you know, it's rewarding what I'm doing, you know, but like you ask, if you walk out there, I'm Greg English.
[28:14] I go back home, I'm Greg A.
[28:15] They call me Greg A back home.
[28:16] Greg A. Yep.
[28:17] Yep.
[28:18] around my in-laws, around just around local things.
[28:22] It's not that hard to be nice.
[28:24] Not that hard to say hello to somebody.
[28:25] It's not that hard just to put your ego aside.
[28:29] You know, it's not that hard.
[28:32] Say hello to somebody.
[28:34] If they come up and ask for a photo, don't be an idiot about it.
[28:40] So that's eight years ago, six years young.
[28:44] I like that you use the term young.
[28:45] Six years young for the Go Out Academy, which we spoke about at the start.
[28:50] So now, aside from the going on academy, I can't.
[28:54] Where's life at for you?
[28:55] Obviously a father of three, that will get you pretty busy.
[28:59] Yeah.
[28:59] How's that going for you?
[29:00] Well, I just found out yesterday that I'm taking my daughter to Disney on ice on Saturdays.
[29:06] Right.
[29:06] My wife's busy, so I just found out yesterday.
[29:09] Right.
[29:10] As you know, curveballs get thrown at you.
[29:14] Weekly, daily, hourly.
[29:17] Hourly.
[29:18] Right.
[29:18] It's, yeah, life for me at the moment and what I've learned
[29:26] you know, it's good.
[29:27] Where I'm at now, I'm, like, yeah, it's busy.
[29:31] Going to Academy is really busy.
[29:33] Like, after the city trip, like I said, I've got
[29:36] family commitments because when I walk through those doors, it's family time.
[29:41] Yeah, no one cares where you've been, how late the flight was, how tired you are, your dad.
[29:45] Kids are kids.
[29:46] Yeah.
[29:47] And then Monday I'm off again on a plane.
[29:49] I'm going up to Cairns, Yarraba.
[29:51] Coming from that, it's not great terms, but I've got to head home for a funeral on Thursday.
[30:01] And then coming back from that there, yeah, stick with it.
[30:06] here, there and everywhere.
[30:09] But I've got a system in place where, you know, yeah, okay, I could be on the road for three weeks, but this week I'm at home and then the following week or three days I'm back home in Maxwell.
[30:20] You know, that's what grounds me.
[30:22] You know, I just thought about it.
[30:24] I was lost.
[30:26] I was talking about rehab.
[30:27] I was lost in those facilities for ourselves, like for my culture to give back...
[30:35] to be where I'm, or to find myself again, was to go back home, be on country.
[30:42] So that's why I always love going back home.
[30:46] I'm glad you found yourself again, mate.
[30:48] Yeah.
[30:48] We always finish this the same way.
[30:51] With this question, it has more weight when you're a parent, which you are.
[30:54] I use different examples.
[30:55] You've had amazing success in the sporting field and probably your impact will be...
[31:03] Even greater with the Go Adam Academy, I think you've scored some amazing tries and done some amazing things for your club, your country and your state.
[31:09] But I think what you're doing with the Go Adam Academy can truly change people's lives for the better.
[31:14] So congratulations to you and your team for that.
[31:17] So the success you've had, so whether kids out there, we have a lot of kids listen, whether they go into rugby league training, whether they want to play for the Melbourne Storm, whether they want to be an electrician, an artist, a singer, a painter, a doctor, whatever
[31:30] doesn't matter what it is, through the success you've had, what advice would you pass on to those young and inquiring minds, GI?
[31:37] Always be curious.
[31:39] Always ask questions.
[31:42] Find your purpose and find your passion.
[31:44] You find those two.
[31:46] You're set.
[31:48] I love it, mate.
[31:48] It's been a privilege to have you in here.
[31:50] I've never met you before.
[31:51] I've obviously admired you and it was great fun going through the clips.
[31:54] And you were a skinny bastard when you started out.
[31:56] I definitely was.
[31:57] There's still hope that I can bulk up at some stage.
[31:58] Good on you, mate.
[31:59] Good on you.
[31:59] Thanks, Harry.
[32:00] Well done.
[32:00] Appreciate it.
[32:03] There is a man that was a star on the field, confronted his problems off the field, and he's now doing so much good in the community with his Goanna Foundation.
[32:12] Kudos to Greg and his team.
[32:14] He is a big bear of a man with a big smile and even bigger laugh who's having a big impact.
[32:22] Thanks to Greg for coming on the show.
[32:23] Until next week with a wonderful insight into cutting-edge sports television with Scott Hansen.
[32:28] Peace and love.
[32:30] And we can do it if we try, try, try.
[32:37] If we try, try, try.
[32:43] If we try, try, try.

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