South Sydney have defended their decision to risk superstar Greg Inglis and allow him to play on with a knee injury during Friday’s NRL loss to the Wests Tigers.

The Queensland and Australian star will undergo scans on Saturday after suffering a nasty blow to his left knee early in the 34-18 season-opening defeat at ANZ Stadium.

Despite suffering the problem in the seventh minute, the Rabbitohs skipper didn’t leave the field until the just before the hour mark, playing most of the match on one leg.

Coach Michael Maguire’s decision to allow the 30-year-old to stay on the field was questioned by the Channel Nine commentary team.

Former NSW coach Phil Gould said: “I can’t believe he’s still out there …. That’s why he’s out on the wing, he’s no good.”

Parramatta great Peter Sterling said: “He’s a passenger.”

There were fears that Inglis could have suffered a long-term injury by persevering, but Maguire said he’d received advice from his medical staff that his star was able to continue.

Maguire also said the injury was not related to the knee issues Inglis experienced last year.

“I’ve got some very good staff and they were obviously in conversation with Greg right throughout the game,” Maguire said.

“Greg felt it was actually getting better and he could stay out there. There was a point in the second half when we thought it was no longer worth pursuing so we pulled him off.”

Inglis was switched to the right wing but was still clearly troubled and limping for most of the game.

“It’s obviously not feeling that great, but coming in at halftime I got reassessed and strapped up and wanted to push it as far as I could,” Inglis said.

“I had trainers coming out asking me how I feel. Personally I felt I could actually get through it.

“But there were two plays in the second half where I couldn’t really do anything. It’s probably one of the worst feelings, just be out there and be a passenger.”

Inglis’ left knee slammed into the turf when he was running towards James Tedesco on a kick chase and admitted he initially thought he’d suffered a serious problem.

“Shattering,” he said when asked of his first reaction.

“I just had to get back up.

“One of the things you do at this club is put your hand up and do the best you can.”