MW: Greg, Monday night’s match against the Sharks … gale force winds, driving rain and an 18-10 loss.

GI: Yeah, it wasn’t the best performance from us. We let the last 15 minutes slip out of our hands, when it felt like we were in control. In the end they got the two points and we didn’t. In saying that, I still feel we’re doing everything right off the park to win matches. I have a very strong belief of what we’re capable of this year. We just need to stick to our processes.

MW: But should the match even have gone ahead considering the horrendous weather across Sydney on Monday night?

GI: It’s very hard to say. That was not a decision for me to make. At the end of the day, it was played and we were unfortunate enough to be on the losing end.

BIG CROWD NEEDED FOR CAIRNS NRL CLASH IN ORDER TO ENTICE SEA EAGLES AND BRONCOS

MW: On Sunday you return to Cairns for your game against the Raiders. More than 16,000 fans watched your 2013 NRL game here against the Titans, while 12,000 turned out for last year’s match against Newcastle Knights. Your club and Cairns share a pretty special relationship too, with Northern Pride playing a trial match against the Bunnies at Redfern earlier this year. Obviously you encourage all fans to again turn out in their droves.

GI: We love spreading the game of rugby league. It is the national rugby league and why not bring it up to Cairns? What better place to do it, than tropical North Queensland. We’ve had a massive turnout there the past few years and I really encourage all fans there again to get right behind this game. The Pride plays before us (in an Intrust Super Cup match against Souths Logan) and it will be a great day out for the family. Souths care about taking rugby league matches across the country. Myself being a Queenslander, I know how much they love rugby league in Cairns.

MW: What do you make of the Raiders? They were highly impressive against Wests Tigers in their comeback last week against them?

GI: They are a team that cannot be underrated. They have a few players that can be quite damaging. I think their captain Jarrod Croker has been outstanding since he stepped up to the captaincy role. (Five-eighth) Blake Austin is another dangerous player. Me personally, I know Canberra will be coming up wanting to do a job (on us). We’ve just got to put in a South Sydney performance we know we’re capable of.

MW: Your game is to be played the day after one of the most important dates on our yearly calender. What does Anzac Day mean to you?

GI: Anzac Day is very special to me. I found out a few years ago that I had a relative who fought in a war. My wife Sally, she also had members of her extended family involved in the war too. I have the upmost respect for our Diggers and the sacrifices they made. It would have been great to have played the match on Anzac Day itself, but it will still be very special.

MW: You’ve been firmly entrenched in the fabric of South Sydney for many years now. Can you describe the culture that exists within the club and what as players you stand for both individually and as a group?

GI: We have high standards as a team. There is a strong belief within all of us. We haven’t gotten results for two or three weeks but we’re close.

MW: As a leader at Souths, how do you drive the standards both on and off the field?

GI: That’s a good question. I certainly try to do that, but the younger members of our squad also do as well. The younger guys have bought into what we’re all about. Each day we turn up here at Souths to do our job. When it’s time to train, we train. When it’s time to relax, we relax.

MW: You’ve pretty much accomplished it all as a professional rugby league player. What continues to drive and motivate you?

GI: I still want to become a better leader. I also want to win. I want to wake up the next day and be better. Whatever got me to where I am today, won’t work tomorrow, or last week. I go to bed and what is done, is done. I’m only thinking about today. We lost to the Sharks, we’ve addressed it and now we focus on the Raiders.