NRL: Inglis reveals heartache over cousin's death

Melbourne star Greg Inglis has been rocked by two family deaths in the last three months. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - Australia rugby league star Greg Inglis has revealed he has been tormented this season by the violent death of his cousin in February.

Inglis said he has been affected by the death of 18-year-old Caleb Jarrett who was stabbed in Nambucca Heads, Northern NSW, earlier this year and his aunt who also passed away from natural causes just before the start of the NRL season.

"It has been hard with my footy but I keep saying to myself that they'd only want to see me do my best and that has motivated me to train even harder," Inglis said in an interview with Rugby League Week magazine.

Inglis, who is preparing for Friday's test against New Zealand in Brisbane, has not spoken previously about the death of his cousin and admitted the situation has been hard for him to cope with.

"It was my cousin and auntie and it's been difficult and something that has taken time to get over," he said.

"At the end of the day I'm only human. You can't control what happens with your family and what life has planned for you though, and that hasn't been easy for me."

- AAP