Q and A with Gallen and Bird
May 18, 2008
GREG Bird and Paul Gallen might be good mates at the Sharks but the pair don't hold back when they are given the opportunity to grill one another on Origin, grudges and body odour.
Greg Bird confronts Paul Gallen about the myth that he is an NRL thug.
Q. Is it true you still haven't spoken to Brett White or Anthony Laffranchi?
A. No, that's not true at all. Me and Boof (Laffranchi) spent a week in Test camp last week and we know each other pretty well off the field. And me and Whitey had a pretty good chat about things the other night, and everything is sweet.
Q. Do you pride yourself on being a thug, or are you just a little misunderstood?
A. I saw this coming. Look, I'm two different people. One when I'm on the field and another when I'm off the field - and I'm anything but a thug off the field. On the field, I do whatever it takes to win and get the best result for my team, and if people think that's thuggery then that's their opinion.
Q. Why did you tell the media you will only answer to the tag 'The Bash Brothers'?
A. I never told the media that, I reckon you did. It seems because we work so well at Cronulla. The tag seems to be popular among the boys and even here in camp they're calling us that. But it's something that has stuck, even though I'm not keen on it.
Q. When you got suspended for gouging out Boofa's head, were you stressing that it would affect your selection for Origin I?
A. Very subtle, mate. I knew I had enough games to prove myself before Origin. I thought it was going to ruin my Test chances, but I got in and proved to everyone I deserve to be here.
Q. What do you remember of our last Origin win together in game three last year?
A. I just remember it went really quick. It was intense, the crowd was enormous. We played hard, tough footy and got the win. The biggest thing was walking around the field at the end of the game, it was an unbelievable feeling.
Q. Isn't it true you came up to me after the game and said, 'if they didn't substitute me I would've got man of the match'.
A. (Laughs) I knew you would get man of the match because you played well, but I think I was a very close second.
Q. Other than 7.30am swim sessions at Coogee beach, what's the worst thing about being in camp?
A. Probably the meal times are too spaced apart. I get so hungry that I have to pig out. I've probably put on a bit of weight.
Q. What's the last thing you'll do before running out on Wednesday night?
A. Ten push-ups.
Q. What do you reckon Bellyache's (Craig Bellamy's) swear count is up to?
A. He can swear a bit, for sure ... but he's passionate and intense and that's the best way he gets his message across.
WITH the shoe now on the other foot Paul Gallen gets the opportunity to fire the questions back at Blues team-mate and friend Greg Bird ahead of State of Origin on Wednesday.
Q. Tell everyone what it means to play for NSW.
A. It's the game where all those names growing up as a kid, come flooding back. Like Benny Elias and his head bleeding and Wally Lewis and MG coming to blows. Just like every other kid, it was the game I wanted to play.
Q. We know you're infatuated by Ricky Stuart, but aside from Sticky, who was your favourite player growing up?
A. Nice one goose. Nah my favourite was Laurie Daley. I was a Raiders fan and I used to play five-eighth as a young fella. And he used to dominate up until his last year.
Q. You like to think you can dominate, don't you Greg?
A. It's not like that, it's just I remember when he was getting on in his career and in his last series he got man of the match and had a blinder, it's things like that you remember.
Q. More importantly, have you got your body odour and breath under control?
A. Ahh piss off. This is a myth. There was never an issue with my personal hygiene.
Q. Righto mate, a couple of serious ones now. You got man of the match in Origin III last year. Is there added expectation on you, because people are saying that's the main reason you got chosen this year?
A. I think there is some extra expectation, especially considering we've got a rookie halfback (Wallace) coming in, there's going to be added pressure on me to take a lot more ownership in the halves. But I'm welcoming the added responsibility.
Q. There's been hype about Braith Anasta missing out, surely he should've got the job in front of you.
A. No doubt Braith has been playing good footy and I wouldn't have been as surprised if he did get picked, and I was picked at lock. But the selectors have picked me for a reason and I can't wait to get out there and do what I do.
Q. Does it keep you on your toes knowing Braith is disappointed not to be here?
A. Yeah, I guess it does. But my footy is not going to change, I'll just play how I play all year and hopefully it will help get the team to get the job done.
Q. Were you happy with your game in the Test match?
A. No, I wasn't as happy as I was last year. Not because of the result, because it just wasn't the game where you could play much footy out wide. It was more of a forwards game, as you know. Not having that solid combination with JT made it hard to get any good ball, which was frustrating for the outside backs as well.
Q. So you're blaming JT for not getting the ball. Does that mean you're going to get him next Wednesday?
A. Ha, ha ... did you just make that up? No, I'm not going to get him. He's too fast for me.
Q. You've never played with Peter Wallace, how's your combination coming along?
A. I think it's going good. Just watching what he's done with the Broncos this year, he leads their pack around well so I think he'll do the same thing for NSW and I'll just run off the field position the forwards get.
Q. I read somewhere last week, Mase said you can't kick, you can't pass and you would prefer to play lock. How much truth is in that?
A. Nah, Mase is just stirring me up because he beat me in a field-goal contest at training last week, that's all. And he was trying to get his mate in the team.
Q. How much of a help has Joey been this week?
A. He's been great. I had a session with Joey last year and it's stuff that you know but he just gives you triggers to make sure you're always thinking about it. It's good for the team and for my game.
Q. Besides being one of you're lovers, would Ricky Stuart be the biggest influence on your career
A. You're an idiot. But yeah, I've had a fair few influences over the years but he's the person who has really taken my game to the next level.
Q. You sat next to the King Wally Lewis at the Centenary Dinner last week. What did he say?
A. When he handed me the jersey, he said not too many blokes get to wear this jumper. It made me think about the talent that has come before me in the No6 jersey, it's exciting to think that maybe one day I can be right up there as well.
Q. So you want to be the next King?
A. Maybe a statue out the front of Toyota Stadium would be nice, yeah.
