Inglis suffered the injury in the first half, and, after assessment from South Sydney medicos, was told to remain on the field.

The 30-year-old was a passenger for the rest of the game and was finally brought off mid-way through the second half.

Following the match Maguire said team medicos advised him and Inglis the injury would not get any worse.

“Hindsight is a great thing and obviously we put our hand up and we didn’t get the call right,” Maguire said.

“When I got to him at halftime and I spoke to the Doc he was determined to go back out and he thought it was going to be OK. Unfortunately it didn’t come across as any of us would have liked.

“When I got the news the following day after the scan I was shattered like everyone. I have worked with Greg for a long, long time. He and I are very close.”

At the time Phil Gould and Darren Lockyer questioned the move to keep Inglis on the field.

“Why did it take so long (to take him off),” Gould said.

 “Number one, you can’t risk him, and number two, you don’t embarrass your greats and he’s been embarrassed tonight having to be left out there.”

“I just don’t see what there is to gain by keeping him out there,’’ Lockyer said.

Inglis will undergo surgery this week.