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Accolades for Greg Bird
Matt Marshall and Dean Ritchie
October 19, 2007 12:00am
LEAGUE Immortal Wally Lewis last night gave Greg Bird the seal of approval as a born Test player.
Filling in at five-eighth for injured Broncos champion Darren Lockyer, 23-year-old Bird was stunning on debut against New Zealand in last weekend's trans-Tasman romp in Wellington. The performance was such that it drew comparisons to "King Wally", one of Australia's greatest players.
Former NSW star Laurie Daley said he saw a lot of Lewis in Bird's dynamic Test debut against the dismal Kiwis – which came on the back of another man-of-the-match performance in Origin III earlier this year.
"I thought Greg Bird was absolutely brilliant against New Zealand," Daley said last night. "He displayed a lot of the attributes that made Wally Lewis great.
"They have similar builds and are both exceptionally strong and powerful.
"I'm certainly not saying Greg is another Wally Lewis – players like Lewis come along every few decades – but Bird cut so many holes in the Kiwi defence, much as Lewis used to do for so many years.
"They both have good running games. Bird will be a representative player for years to come.
"He was also great when he came in for State of Origin III for NSW. He really gave us some authority."
Lewis said Bird and the other first-gamers could hold their heads high for their brilliant efforts at Westpac Stadium.
"I remember when Steve Mortimer scored his first try for Australia, he was very happy," Lewis said.
"I saw Bird was just hysterical when he got to celebrate his Test debut with a great team try. I'm sure he's very happy. It was the biggest day in his career."
It is understood that Bob Fulton, another Immortal who was also a five-eighth, also sees strong similarities between Bird and Lewis.
"I know Bob Fulton has mentioned this in the past," Roos coach Ricky Stuart said.
"He isn't comparing Bird to Lewis but he sees similarities."
Former NSW and Australia five-eighth Brett Kenny – Lewis's long-term sparring partner – agrees.
"They have similar running styles," Kenny said. "They aren't that quick but they can go if in the clear. They also have the same physique and both are defensively very good."
Matt Marshall and Dean Ritchie
October 19, 2007 12:00am
LEAGUE Immortal Wally Lewis last night gave Greg Bird the seal of approval as a born Test player.
Filling in at five-eighth for injured Broncos champion Darren Lockyer, 23-year-old Bird was stunning on debut against New Zealand in last weekend's trans-Tasman romp in Wellington. The performance was such that it drew comparisons to "King Wally", one of Australia's greatest players.
Former NSW star Laurie Daley said he saw a lot of Lewis in Bird's dynamic Test debut against the dismal Kiwis – which came on the back of another man-of-the-match performance in Origin III earlier this year.
"I thought Greg Bird was absolutely brilliant against New Zealand," Daley said last night. "He displayed a lot of the attributes that made Wally Lewis great.
"They have similar builds and are both exceptionally strong and powerful.
"I'm certainly not saying Greg is another Wally Lewis – players like Lewis come along every few decades – but Bird cut so many holes in the Kiwi defence, much as Lewis used to do for so many years.
"They both have good running games. Bird will be a representative player for years to come.
"He was also great when he came in for State of Origin III for NSW. He really gave us some authority."
Lewis said Bird and the other first-gamers could hold their heads high for their brilliant efforts at Westpac Stadium.
"I remember when Steve Mortimer scored his first try for Australia, he was very happy," Lewis said.
"I saw Bird was just hysterical when he got to celebrate his Test debut with a great team try. I'm sure he's very happy. It was the biggest day in his career."
It is understood that Bob Fulton, another Immortal who was also a five-eighth, also sees strong similarities between Bird and Lewis.
"I know Bob Fulton has mentioned this in the past," Roos coach Ricky Stuart said.
"He isn't comparing Bird to Lewis but he sees similarities."
Former NSW and Australia five-eighth Brett Kenny – Lewis's long-term sparring partner – agrees.
"They have similar running styles," Kenny said. "They aren't that quick but they can go if in the clear. They also have the same physique and both are defensively very good."
