NRL: Inglis rated half a chance to play against Warriors

Storm centre Greg Inglis has been named to play against the Warriors, despite injuring his ankle in the loss to Manly on Monday. Photo / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - Melbourne big gun Greg Inglis is rated a 50-50 chance of taking on the Warriors in their National Rugby League (NRL) match on Sunday after scans cleared the Kangaroos star of major injury.

Inglis was named in the Melbourne line-up yesterday for the Anzac Day match at Etihad Stadium, less than 24 hours after being assisted from the field late in the first half of the Storm's 18-16 loss to Manly.

Scans cleared the giant centre of any new structural or ligament damage, although he aggravated an existing injury when tackled by Sea Eagles centre Steve Matai.

He was off his crutches at the team recovery pool session on Tuesday, but did solo work, wading in the shallow pool.

Fellow Storm centre Dane Nielsen nursed a thumb and finger injury, which forced him off in the second half, but was also included in the squad, avoiding a major backline reshuffle.

Furious Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy forecast team changes after the disappointing performance, however the only new face in the squad is Brett White.

With Bellamy complaining about poor attitude and a lack of aggression from his forwards, White is set to play his first game of 2010 following off-season shoulder surgery having being added to an extended bench.

Storm skipper Cameron Smith acknowledged his team lacked mongrel against a fired-up Manly.

"It was a pretty physical match and we got out-played in the forwards in the first half definitely," Smith said.

"I don't think I've played against Manly when they've played like that, particularly Jason King, I've never seen him run like that before and he really led the way for them."

After the match he rated his showing, with a number of fumbled balls and a shanked easy conversion attempt as "one of the worst of his career".

After a night of reflection Smith said he had been harsh on himself but was still bitterly disappointed.

"The feeling that I had after the game was one of missed opportunity," he said.

"We played pretty poorly and lost by two points so we had a chance to win it.

"That kick I missed, I could probably have usually kicked with my eyes closed."

One player who had something to celebrate was league journeyman Bryan Norrie, who scored the first try of his career after 64 NRL games, since making his debut in 2004.

The 26-year-old prop, who has played at St George Illawarra, Penrith and Cronulla before joining the Storm this year, was grateful to break the duck but would have traded it for a win.

"It was disappointing we didn't get a win," he said.

"We've got to try to have a good week because we've got the Warriors and they're a big side so we've got our work cut out there.

"The boys have got their heads up and we're going to rip in at training and get a win against the Warriors, hopefully."

Storm
Billy Slater, Luke MacDougall, Dane Nielsen, Greg Inglis, Anthony Quinn, Brett Finch, Cooper Cronk, Aiden Tolman, Cameron Smith (capt), Jeff Lima, Adam Blair, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe.

Interchange: Todd Lowrie, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Tandy, Bryan Norrie, Hep Cahill, Brett White (two to be omitted).

Warriors
Wade McKinnon, Brent Tate, Joel Moon, Jerome Ropati, Bill Tupou, Lance Hohaia, James Maloney, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Jesse Royal, Lewis Brown, Jacob Lillyman, Micheal Luck (capt).

Interchange: Ian Henderson, Russell Packer, Ukuma Ta'ai, Ben Matulino.

- AAP