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 It could be the final showdown: Inglis and Gasnier square off in Melbourne 

It could be the final showdown: Inglis and Gasnier square off in Melbourne

20/07/2008 12:22:43 AM
It's the decider we didn't get to see in Origin. Greg Inglis v Mark Gasnier. And for Inglis the personal duel in the Dragons-Storm clash tomorrow night means even more, because a rematch is unlikely.

"It's exciting. It could be the last time me and Gaz square off," Inglis told The Sun-Herald . "It should be a quite interesting match-up because he obviously had me in game one and I got one back on him in game two of Origin.

"Both of us will take a lot of pleasure out of it [coming out on top] on Monday night.

"It's two world [class] athletes going head to head and showing their skills. He's got that natural instinct. Whenever he gets the ball, something happens.

"He's a hard man to mark up against. He's got that gift, the X-factor. I want to accept the challenge and I think Gaz does, too. It will bring the best football out of both of us."

So Inglis reckons this is their decider?

"Exactly right," he said after Gasnier was ruled out of Origin III through injury. "Gaz and the Dragons are going to come out really strong and they will want to finish really strong with one of their best players leaving."

But Inglis, who is listed to play five-eighth tomorrow night, should be able to take it all in his stride. After all, he is the game's best player. That was confirmed when his peers voted him the NRL's best in Rugby League Week 's 2008 player poll.

"It went down pretty sweet," Inglis said. "It's great to be voted by my peers to be the best NRL player there is [but that's not going to affect me this week at all. I haven't changed my preparation. I've stayed consistent and it's showing on the field."

There wouldn't be a rugby club in Europe that doesn't want to sign Inglis, but they face a long wait. There are no thoughts of following Gasnier (pictured) any time soon.

"No, not yet, it's too early in my career," the 21-year-old said. "It won't be anything I'll be thinking about 'til I'm 30."

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