Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy’s pre-match warning about Greg Inglis rang true with the South Sydney skipper doing his best to steer his team to an upset NRL qualifying final win over the Storm.

Knowing the strengths of Inglis well after coaching him for six seasons at the Storm, Bellamy said the centre was a “big game” player, who played his best football on the main stage.

Inglis scored twice – the second one a freakish solo try after taking on the game’s greatest fullback in Billy Slater – which turned momentum back in his team’s favour.

But the Rabbitohs couldn’t sustain it – with Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster breaking a deadlock with a late field goal for 29-28 win.

While the Rabbitohs had never won in Melbourne in their 14 attempts, AAMI Park had always been a happy hunting ground for Inglis, who looked right at home.

He didn’t get any special favours from his former teammates early in the match, left clutching at his shoulder after what appeared to be a “chicken-wing” tackle by Jesse Bromwich and Dale Finucane.

He was also left with sore ribs post match after some heavy hits.

Inglis’ first try came in the 36th minute when he trailed winger Robert Jennings, who managed to fling the ball to Inglis as he was being tackled by Slater with the centre planting it over the line.

The 31-year-old, who recently returned from a broken thumb, looked like he had turned the game early in the second half.

Inglis out-leapt Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu, snatching the ball and then lined up Slater front on, barrelling over the line and managing to ground the ball.

Souths coach Anthony Seibold said after the match Inglis had proven his incredible value on and off the field during the season.

“The proof is in the pudding – the last three weeks when Greg has been on the field our performances from a team point of view have been better and he’s been outstanding individually,” Seibold said.