Greg Inglis says he can produce his best form at Warrington

Merely looking at the honours he has won both individually and collectively shows the impact he has had on the game of rugby league.

Having conquered the NRL three times, a World Cup with his country and multiple State of Origin titles with Queensland, he could have happily enjoyed the retirement he set out upon in 2019.

However, the itch came back and he has now arrived in England to scratch it – arguably this generation’s greatest player is part of the Warrington Wolves squad.

Since his signing was announced last May, fans have marvelled at highlight reels of a hulking behemoth – a freakish combination of front-row power and outside-back speed – in dominant form.

But is that version of ‘GI’ still in there?

“Eventually, I will get there,” he said after starting training with his new teammates earlier this week.

“I’ve been out of the game for two years so I would ask fans and supporters to be patient.

“I know I won’t be at my best for the first five or six rounds to be completely honest. It will take time to get used to week in, week out footy again.

“It’s not just about the weekends either – its what you do during the week, going at it and performing at training.

“I haven’t trained to this intensity for a while and I’m pulling up sore every day.”

> VIDEO: Straight into training, snow and lockdown rules – Inglis on his first few days in Warrington

Greg Inglis and his partner Alyse Caccamo were met at Manchester Airport by Wire head coach Steve Price

Inglis will already be an icon for fans of rugby league who have watched in wonder and often disappointment as he tore down the hopes of England teams through the years as part of an all-conquering Australian side.

Him getting somewhere near that form alone will not carry The Wire to the first ever Super League title they so crave, but it will certainly play a big part.

If this is to be “the year,” then he and his teammates will write themselves into this town’s folklore.

“It’s a long road to get there before we can start talking about it,” said Inglis, who turns 34 tomorrow, Friday.

“We’ve got to take it little steps at a time. As long as we break our season up into little blocks and start ticking them off, we will have a higher chance.

“That’s the end goal but more important at the moment is taking the little steps.

“I know it’s a long season with many more games than in the NRL, but if we manage our squad right and have a bit of a different approach, it will be a totally different season to what we’ve been having over the past couple of years.

“We’ve been flying fourth and third and obviously, we want to get back to that top mantle.

“Truth be told, the team comes first in my mind. The more you get everyone working on the same page, the better you’re going to be as a squad.

“Everything else is a snowball effect and it rolls on from that.

“I’ve come here to give my experience and help others through that but I’m looking forward to playing alongside these guys for the season."

They are the words of a man determined not to be seen as the superstar his reputation paints him out to be, but more as a player aiming to bring what he can to the collective.

As quite possibly the biggest statement signing in Super League history, however, he knows full well there will be rivals out to get him when the action does get underway.

“Once I cross that white line, my mentality changes,” he said.

“I’m a bit of a joker on the changing rooms but I know I have a job to do, going out there and doing my best for the team.

“I know there’s going to be a target on my head, but it’s something I expected.”