Bird keen to lead the Blues

Emma Greenwood | 12:01am July 2, 2013


FORMER wild child turned Titan Greg Bird has declared he wants to captain NSW in the Origin decider if Paul Gallen is ruled out with injury.

The role would cap a remarkable tale of redemption for Bird, who has shed his bad-boy image to become one of the most respected leaders in the game.

Tigers skipper and NSW vice-captain Robbie Farah is expected to be given the captaincy, but Bird privately believes he has a very strong case to lead the Blues and has more Origin experience than Farah.

``I'd love the honour of captaining but ideally Gal will be playing,'' Bird said.

The NSW captaincy issue is heating up after Sharks coach Shane Flanagan uttered the words every Queensland fan wanted to hear, conceding NSW skipper Paul Gallen is in grave doubt for the Origin decider.

Desperate to have his forward enforcer on deck for Origin III, Blues coach Laurie Daley will give Gallen every chance to prove his fitness for the July 17 clash at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

Bird believes his Origin teammate is still a strong chance of playing.

``I know the passion and the drive that he has for Origin football, so I'm sure that he'll make sure that he's right for it,'' Bird said.

``And if he's not, he'll battle through an injury.''

But Flanagan, Gallen's club coach, has painted a bleak picture, revealing the Cronulla captain is ``touch and go'' to have recovered from a foot injury in time.

Gallen, who limped out of Suncorp Stadium last Wednesday night wearing a moon-boot after Origin II, sat out Cronulla's 24-4 loss to the Cowboys in Townsville on Sunday night and he won't be named for Cronulla's showdown against Wests Tigers this Friday night.

The following week, Origin stars are stood down from club matches, including the Brisbane-Cronulla clash at Suncorp meaning Gallen will not feature again before Game Three.

Flanagan said he doesn't expect to see Gallen in a Cronulla jumper until their round 19 fixture against the Roosters on Saturday, July 20 three days after the Origin decider.

The loss of Gallen would be a crushing blow for the Blues, who are at long odds to deny Queensland an eighth consecutive Origin crown without their spiritual leader.

``He won't play for us until after Origin,'' Flanagan said.

``We have a quick turnaround, we play Wests Tigers on Friday night so he won't be right for that and then there is the stand-down week when we're against the Broncos.''

NSW team doctor Nathan Gibbs said yesterday it was too early to tell if Gallen would be cleared to play Origin.

Bird has leadership qualities especially in Origin. Even if he doesn't get the (c) next to his name he will be a leader on the field anywho so i doubt it would make a big difference.