Bird wants to keep No.6 jersey

[Mr Angry]

Bird wants to keep No.6 jersey


By Dean Ritchie
April 23, 2008
CRONULLA powerhouse Greg Bird has laid down the challenge to Darren Lockyer, declaring he wants to wear Australia's No.6 jersey in the Centenary Test against New Zealand at the SCG.
Bird, the incumbent Kangaroos five-eighth, is locked in a battle with Lockyer and Sydney Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta for the May 9 Test.

Selectors are privately worried about Lockyer, who hasn't started a game this season - he has played three off the bench - and has played just 39 minutes in the past four rounds.

But Lockyer, who is battling knee soreness since an off-season reconstruction, came through a searching fitness test in Brisbane and is desperate to show selectors he is worthy of his Test spot.

He will play against South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

Former Australia coaches Chris Anderson and Wayne Bennett have joined the five-eighth debate, as has ex-Kangaroos No.6 Cliff Lyons.

Anasta is favourite for the five-eighth jersey, with Bird likely to play lock, but the Sharks star said: "I'd like to play five-eighth. It is a position where there is some ball-running for me.

"I've always enjoyed five-eighth but I guess it is a matter of where the selectors want to pick me.

"The incumbents did a great job last year (a 58-0 win over New Zealand in October).

"There's been a lot of conjecture over some positions but that side (in Wellington) did a great job and they'd be hard to go past.

"In other circumstances the selectors have shown loyalty so I can't see why they wouldn't keep with that tradition. It depends I guess on what the selectors are thinking.

"I just want to be part of the Centenary Test. I'd be happy to play anywhere."

Anasta has also been in great form and has increasing support among the selection panel.
"I couldn't be happier with my form," he said.
"If anything else comes along then it's a bonus."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23584571-23214,00.html

__________________________________________

He is clear now what he prefers.

 

[Mr Angry]

Bird keen to be considered a five-eighth
May 7, 2008 - 7:40PM

In what may have been a hint to NSW Origin selectors and Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart, Test pivot Greg Bird has officially declared himself a five-eighth - sort of.
"I'm just a player at Cronulla," Bird said.
"I'd like to think (I'm a five-eighth), I enjoy playing five-eighth ... I don't see why a player can't player a couple of positions.
"(Darren) Lockyer played fullback for most of his career."
And so Bird put forward his case to become a No.6 who plays a bit of backrow as well.
He has spent much of this season at lock for the Sharks, but Bird believes that's more by desperation than design.
"At the moment it's disappointing that we've got a lot of forwards out at our club because I'd probably be playing (five-eighth) there," he said.
"It's just that we've had injury and suspension just plague us a little bit over the early part of the season, it's sort of made it difficult."
Not that playing at lock has hindered his form, Bird originally selected in the No.13 jumper for Friday night's Test against New Zealand.
With Lockyer pulling out due to ongoing issues with his knee, Bird was shifted over to five-eighth, where he made his international debut in Australia's thumping of the Kiwis in October last year.
It's also the position from which he starred for NSW in last year's State of Origin finale.
Bird brings a tenacity and toughness not seen at five-eighth since Wally Lewis adorned the green and gold No.6 jumper, and the Cronulla star says he isn't about to change his ways.
"I don't really think of it too much as stepping into (Lockyer's) shoes, I'm not going to go out there and play Lockyer's game, I don't play that style of football," Bird said.
"I'm going to go out there and play my game, I play more of a running style five-eighth and I've done a lot of work over the last few years to give myself the opportunity to play five-eighth, just with my ball skills and more organisational stuff with the outside backs."
Bird's fire and brimstone type of play could be just what Australia need in the opening exchanges with players from both sides predicting a hot start to the game.
Together with Sharks teammate Paul Gallen and bench forwards Willie Mason and Carl Webb, there's more than enough mongrel in the Australian squad to handle the Kiwis.
While admitting players tend to get away with a bit more in the Test arena than in the NRL, Mason said he wasn't expecting too much foul play.
"It's international rules, it's a Test match," Mason said.
"You're not going to go out there and be stupid, you're going to go out there and play fair, tough and hard.
"That's the way we play, both teams. They're not dirty, they're not Pommies."
http://news.leaguehq.com.au/bird-keen-to-be-considered-a-fiveeighth/20080507-2bxn.html

Twice now Bird has stated he wants to be five-eight.

Makes me wonder if this is part of the reason Kimmorley has been told to look elsewhere.

 

[azzah72]

Bird keen to be considered a five-eighth
May 7, 2008 - 7:40PM

In what may have been a hint to NSW Origin selectors and Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart, Test pivot Greg Bird has officially declared himself a five-eighth - sort of.
"I'm just a player at Cronulla," Bird said.
"I'd like to think (I'm a five-eighth), I enjoy playing five-eighth ... I don't see why a player can't player a couple of positions.
"(Darren) Lockyer played fullback for most of his career."
And so Bird put forward his case to become a No.6 who plays a bit of backrow as well.
He has spent much of this season at lock for the Sharks, but Bird believes that's more by desperation than design.
"At the moment it's disappointing that we've got a lot of forwards out at our club because I'd probably be playing (five-eighth) there," he said.
"It's just that we've had injury and suspension just plague us a little bit over the early part of the season, it's sort of made it difficult."
Not that playing at lock has hindered his form, Bird originally selected in the No.13 jumper for Friday night's Test against New Zealand.
With Lockyer pulling out due to ongoing issues with his knee, Bird was shifted over to five-eighth, where he made his international debut in Australia's thumping of the Kiwis in October last year.
It's also the position from which he starred for NSW in last year's State of Origin finale.
Bird brings a tenacity and toughness not seen at five-eighth since Wally Lewis adorned the green and gold No.6 jumper, and the Cronulla star says he isn't about to change his ways.
"I don't really think of it too much as stepping into (Lockyer's) shoes, I'm not going to go out there and play Lockyer's game, I don't play that style of football," Bird said.
"I'm going to go out there and play my game, I play more of a running style five-eighth and I've done a lot of work over the last few years to give myself the opportunity to play five-eighth, just with my ball skills and more organisational stuff with the outside backs."
Bird's fire and brimstone type of play could be just what Australia need in the opening exchanges with players from both sides predicting a hot start to the game.
Together with Sharks teammate Paul Gallen and bench forwards Willie Mason and Carl Webb, there's more than enough mongrel in the Australian squad to handle the Kiwis.
While admitting players tend to get away with a bit more in the Test arena than in the NRL, Mason said he wasn't expecting too much foul play.
"It's international rules, it's a Test match," Mason said.
"You're not going to go out there and be stupid, you're going to go out there and play fair, tough and hard.
"That's the way we play, both teams. They're not dirty, they're not Pommies."
http://news.leaguehq.com.au/bird-keen-to-be-considered-a-fiveeighth/20080507-2bxn.html

Twice now Bird has stated he wants to be five-eight.

Makes me wonder if this is part of the reason Kimmorley has been told to look elsewhere.

Love those lines

 

[Mr Angry]

Just watched Catalan Dragons, and Greg Bird was the best player on the field.

Playing lock, the type of lock Frenzy wants in 2019.......…..

Bring back the Bird!!!!

 

[Miller was a legend]

Just watched Catalan Dragons, and Greg Bird was the best player on the field.

Playing lock, the type of lock Frenzy wants in 2019.......…..

Bring back the Bird!!!!

He is like 400 years old isn’t he?

 

[Mr Angry]

Younger than Gall.

 

[Miller was a legend]

Younger than Gall.

I meant Frenzy lol

 

[Frenzy.]

400 in November

 

[Miller was a legend]

400 in November

Haha

 

[snout]

Thats the word

 

[Quigs]

400 in November

401