LOL. Greg Bird and Paul f**king cat Gallen worth 9 Storm players. Jesus christ. But other than that I agree, stop bitching. Pity he's such a clueless prick
another one for you
Greg Bird is NSW's version of Wally Lewis
By Josh Massoud | May 22, 2008 12:00am
Have your say!Add your comments or
read what others are saying
In a tangle ... Greg Bird and Johnathan Thurston fight for the ball. Photograph: Mark Evans / The Daily Telegraph
THE Blues have long coveted their own Wally Lewis, a player so purpose-built for Origin that he eventually melts into its folklore. According to the man who might have filled that void - had he played Origin - the search is nearly over.
This week named the Blues' Five-Eighth of the Century, league immortal Bob Fulton last night crowned Greg Bird as the NSW version of the King.
Bird won his second straight Origin man-of-the-match award last night.
In doing so, he became only the fifth player alongside Lewis, Chris Close, Sam Backo and Ricky Stuart to notch the amazing double.
Lewis was so good he did it twice en route to winning a record eight awards. But after just three appearances in sky blue, Bird is already a quarter of the way there.
It's an incredible achievement for a player who is not even considered a five-eighth by many, let alone one who deserves mention in the same rarified sentences as King Wally.
Related Links
Fulton begs to differ. Now a NSW selector, Fulton could not have been more satisfied after Bird returned the panel's faith by producing a game that teemed with intimidation.
"What Greg Bird did tonight shows he can handle pressure on a consistent basis. It shows he is made for this type of football," Fulton said.
"He is Wally Lewis-like in the way he plays the game.
"He takes pressure off his halfback with his defence and he's got a better passing game than anyone gives him credit for.
"Like Wally, he is very intimidating. He has that air about him. I'm not saying he is a carbon copy - but he has that consistency at this level."
Despite starring efforts from Blues rookies Peter Wallace and Anthony Laffranchi, the Australian selectors were unanimous in handing Bird the best-on-ground award.
Chairman Bob McCarthy didn't mention Lewis while explaining their reasons, but he did cite an important commonality.
"Some players are made for NFL, some players are made for rugby league, and some players are made for Origin," McCarthy said.
"Greg Bird is made for Origin."
Sure is. Clutching a stubby of VB afterwards, the man of the moment declared himself an "old school player". His trademark defence, bruising as always, was satisfying.
Bird credited NSW's dominant forwards for having the chance to play his natural game after the Blues had full control of Queensland up the middle of the ruck.
The highlight of his performance was a delightful cut-out ball to Mark Gasnier that laid on the Blues' match-winning try 12 minutes from the buzzer.
Listening to him talk about it, you could sense it was satisfying because the pass literally flew in the face of critics who suggest he doesn't possess enough creative subtleties to warrant a spot in the halves.
"For me, the best moment was that pass to Gaz. There was a bit of satisfaction in that," Bird said.
But the 24-year-old Cronulla Sharks player, who revealed a softer side by donating last year's $1000 prize to flood relief in his home town of Maitland, still reckons he is yet to convince anyone of his merit in the No. 6 jumper.
"It's only been one game this year," Bird said. "I don't think I've proved anything to anyone yet. Ask me after the third game and I'll give you the answer."
Blues brother Paul Gallen, however, believes his Sharks teammate has silenced the doubters for good, particularly coming on top of last year's man-of-the-match performance at five-eighth for Australia.
Asked how he felt about Bird being compared with Lewis, Gallen declined to agree - but only on parochial grounds.
"Wally was a Queenslander so I don't want to put Greg alongside him," he smiled.
"We'll have to think of someone from NSW."
And what about last night's prize- money? What what will Bird do with it?
"Well there's no flood in Maitland this time, so I suppose it will have to go straight to the hip pocket," he said.
