League: Inglis being touted as the next big thing

Greg Inglis has scored 18 tries in 18 matches. Kristian Dowling / Getty Images

A year ago, young Kiwis star Benji Marshall was the talk of the NRL after inspiring Wests Tigers to grand-final victory.

Now, as he regains full fitness after shoulder surgery, Marshall is tipping Melbourne Storm centre Greg Inglis to be the sensation of the 2006 finale on Sunday night.

Inglis' reputation as the next big thing in the league world has grown quickly this year.

Last weekend he scored his 18th try from 18 matches as the Storm dispatched St George Illawarra in the preliminary final.

Still only 19, Inglis is negotiating an extension of his deal with Melbourne until 2010, by which time he could be earning a reported A$500,000 ($578,368) a year - double his current salary.

And he could prove a headache for the Kiwis in next month's Tri-Nations, tipped as a likely Kangaroos test debutant in the fullback's jersey.

Marshall, whose pay packet would have similarly skyrocketed in the past year, had no doubts what Inglis could do to the Broncos.

"If he gets the ball in any sort of space, nine times out of 10 he scores," Marshall said.

"He's a freak in the way that he can just pull something from nothing. He's got the ability to spark the whole team like that."

Marshall knows what it's like to spark a team in a big match.

A year ago his trademark mid-air sidestep, blistering pace from inside his own half and a deft flick pass set up an early try to Pat Richards which knocked the stuffing out of North Queensland.

Marshall said even though all the focus would be on Broncos playmaker Darren Lockyer, the speedy 1.94m, 92kg Inglis could "tear the game open".

"He's confident about his ability, but without being arrogant. He's really shot up in size since schoolboys. He's massive now.

"He's got it all - size, speed, power, skill, the big right-arm fend. One on one, it's impossible to stop him."

Marshall's not the only one to get excited about Inglis this week.

Newcastle halfback Andrew Johns, rated the best player in the NRL, declared that Inglis could become the greatest league player ever.

"He's only 19 but already in the top two or three players in the game - that's how highly I rate him," Johns said. "It is scary how much talent he has and he is only going to get better."

Inglis started this week under a cloud after suffering a bicep injury last weekend to go with shoulder and Achilles tendon niggles, but has been given a clean bill of health.

- NZPA