'Rock bottom': Greg Inglis opens up on bender with former topless model

Greg Inglis' battles with depression were common knowledge throughout his career but the NRL legend has opened up on a period of his life where he had strayed past "rock bottom".

The former South Sydney fullback retired from the NRL in 2019 after a string of injuries cruelled his playing time in the twilight of his career.

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Opening up to the ABC on a emotional episode of Australian Story, Inglis poured his heart out about the dangerous effect his injuries had on his mental health.

It was a season-ending knee injury in the opening round of 2017 that was the catalyst for Inglis initially spiralling into a state of alcohol-fuelled depression.

“When I was feeling down, training was the only thing that kept me stable,” Inglis told the ABC program.

“Part of the reason my ACL had that massive effect was that I didn’t have the routine.

“I tried to stay around the club and be involved with rugby league, but something that I loved and had been doing for so long had just been taken away, and I didn’t know how to cope.”

Inglis eventually checked into a rehab facility but was caught drink driving in 2018, having just been appointed as the captain of Australia.

He was stood down as Kangaroos captain and later in 2018 split up with the mother of his two children, partner Sally Robinson.

Former South Sydney CEO Shane Richardson was a close friend of the NRL star's and admitted that off-season leading into the 2019 campaign would be a "dangerous period" for Inglis after admitting that his life had come "crashing down".

Still battling knee problems, Inglis made it only two games into the 2019 season before making the heartbreaking decision to retire from the game.

Infamous bender during low point of Inglis’ life

The Kangaroos and Maroons legend still remained an important part of the Souths club, but without training and playing, the danger signs for Inglis were obvious.

The situation came to a head during the NRL's Magic Round in Brisbane, where all the teams were based in the Queensland capital and matches were played back-to-back over consecutive days.

Inglis had travelled with the Rabbitohs as an ambassador of the club but went missing for two days, before it was revealed he had been on a bender with former topless model and reality TV star, Suzi Taylor.

Taylor told Yahoo Lifestyle after the incident that they “acted like brother and sister”, and she was simply “there as a friend” for the former South Sydney Rabbitohs star who “wanted some solace”.

But with Inglis' whereabouts unknown to anyone at the club for 48 hours, Richardson admits he was worried for the superstar's life.

“Alcohol mixed with the tablets wasn’t good for him, and that was his lowest point,” Richardson told Australian Story.

“It was a really tough time. There were 48 hours we didn’t even know where he was. But we eventually found out where he was and then we put things in place to bring him home.

“I was fearing that he’d take his own life, because he just couldn’t see any way out of it.

Inglis concedes that he had gone "past rock bottom" during that infamous weekend with Taylor but fortunately had never entertained the thought of suicide.

“I don’t know how long I could have kept going on until I actually hit, past rock bottom,” he told Australian Story.

“I needed to hit a low point. Very much so.”

Inglis decided to give rehab a try for the second time and it was during this stay - where he was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder - that Inglis was prescribed medication that has worked wonders and helped turn the star's life around.

He now has a new partner and shocked the rugby league world in May by signing a one-year deal with English Super League club Warrington, with the prospect of an Origin comeback for the Maroons something the 33-year-old hasn't ruled out.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.