Qld centre O’Neill’s thoughts with Inglis

The glaring absence of Greg Inglis at Queensland’s State of Origin camp has hit home for Justin O’Neill, who admits his recent off-field battle is still a “touchy subject”.

Maroons centre O’Neill is under pressure to retain his spot ahead of the series opener on Wednesday night at Suncorp Stadium after a quiet NRL season start for North Queensland.

But O’Neill’s thoughts were with Inglis after his former Melbourne Storm teammate sought treatment for mental health issues.

“It is strange not having him in camp,” O’Neill said of 30 Origin veteran Inglis.

“When I first started out at Storm he was a real role model for me.

“He kick-started my career.

“All our thoughts are with him. We feel for Greggy.”

O’Neill became emotional when he spoke of his own journey since first being taken under Inglis’s wing at Melbourne in 2010.

After Inglis left for South Sydney in 2011, an injury-hit O’Neill was eventually relegated to Storm reserve grade before asking for a release to North Queensland in 2014.

He hasn’t looked back, winning a 2015 title with the Cowboys and earning Origin and Test debuts last year.

“It is a touchy subject,” O’Neill said.

“But at times as a rugby league player you find yourself maybe not in your best form and you’re back playing reserve grade.

“That can dent your ego, or your confidence.

“It’s hard to come back at times. I think a lot of players do focus on the negatives.”

Loyal Queensland selectors raised eyebrows when they stuck with O’Neill for Origin I despite a quiet NRL season start hampered by a hamstring injury.

But O’Neill said lessons learned on the path to his fourth Maroon jersey would steel him for the challenge to keep it.

“It’s important to look at the positives as well and make sure you enjoy them a lot more than the negatives weighing you down,” he said.

“I had a slump in my career when I was just about to leave Storm and I came off a couple of bad injuries and found myself in reserve grade.

“So the change (to Cowboys) did me the world of good.

“I was able to find some form and really bring my confidence back.”

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