After an array of scandals from 2014 to 2016, Greg Bird’s legacy has been heavily tainted, but the man behind the jersey has a lot more to him than his mischief.
After his wedding, he was caught urinating next to a police vehicle, saying it had put a dampener on his weekend and his actions weren’t acceptable. He was slaughtered by the media the following weeks.
In February 2015, he along with other players from the Titans were involved in an infamous cocaine supply scandal.
This had him stood down from the club, although charges were later dropped due to a lack of evidence.
The final nail in the coffin was an incident in 2016 at a Byron Bay club, which was investigated by the NRL. It was his third major issue.
During his playing career he became one of the most hated players throughout the league for his ability to get under someone’s skin.
On and off the field, he had a knack for trouble.
(AAP Image/Dan Peled)
He was someone you loved to be on your team but despised if you came up against him, for both his immaculate play and dirty tactics.
This final issue led to his departure from not only the league but the country, packing up and leaving Australia to move to France, out of the public eye.
Before leaving, he had one last swipe at the Titans, saying: “I’m disappointed that like other people at the club I got pushed out the door”.
His original club from 2007, the Catalan Dragons, were lucky to see the 32-year-old Bird return on a five-year deal.
The Dragons had him for only three years until the announcement in 2019 that he would be calling it quits.
He tore it up for his old club like he once had for the Titans, playing 76 games, and crossing the line 13 times, winning the prestigious 2018 Challenge Cup.
He was given a hero’s farewell by the Dragons and when the final whistle blew, the crowd erupted as he held the ball up high, giving a royal wave to his forever grateful fans.
Even fans back in Australia had the same love for their once great mischief-maker, despite the not-so-kind words he left for their club.
After retirement, Bird has stayed under the radar and is living a quiet life with his family, although he never has fallen out of the thoughts of fans.
Titans fans today hold him as one of the club’s greatest players, drawing comparisons to current player Keegan Hipgrave, both for their iconic moustache and their playing style (minus the mayhem).
Titans supporters hope to see Hipgrave reach the level of success of Bird, hopefully taking the club back to the playoffs, which they haven’t seen since 2016 after Bird’s departure.
All in all, he is a legend for the Dragons, Sharks and the Titans. Greg Bird will be hated by few and loved by many for years to come.
KillaKanga
Roar Rookie
Paul
Roar Guru
again Clarke, when he was in the right frame of mind, there was probably no better second rower in the game, but some of his tactics on field were a tad grubby and I don't understand why. He was such a good player ( as you said, mesmorising), when he simply used his ability and played footy.
Clarke V
Roar Rookie
In the Titans community, he's still held as a beloved club great, and it's rare to hear people bag him. I undoubtedly have some bias for him as a Titans supporter though.
Clarke V
Roar Rookie
his off-field antics definitely hinder his chance at being remembered as an all-time great, but it can't be understated he was an animal once he hit the turf, and deserves recognition for such. definitely not a good role model, but a memorising player.
Nick
Roar Guru
You were lucky to have this published. Airbrushing his very, very significant court case from this article was a disgrace. I do not for a moment believe you when you say you weren't aware of it. Even the most cursory search of Greg Bird on google has it come up. You've stone cold chosen to ignore it.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Add halves who never stepped up in the clutch (aside from 2014) and the Gallen overcalling thing is a myth I think it comes from wanting to win but you’re right, the players around him were as much (more?) to blame When he played for Australia the overcalling thing was never an issue and it rarely ever was for the Sharks. Why NSW then? Did he change his game so markedly?
The Barry
Roar Guru
What about the glassing incident you failed to mention in your article? Did you not hear about that one? He was guilty for that (and for lying to police about it). It was the reason why a) he left Australia and b) he signed with Catalans as he couldn’t get a work visa to sign with an English club If you hold him in high regard, that’s fine. I think you've misread public sentiment pretty significantly to think few will hate him, many will love him
Clarke V
Roar Rookie
a lot of people still hold Bird to high regard in the Titans' community, personally never heard much about that incident, probably due to not being found guilty.
Chalk70
Guest
This guy was one of the biggest thugs in the game..how can you write this article and not mention that he glassed his girlfriend in 2009.? . The sooner guys like this are out of the game the better , and the more league I’ll watch.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I'll back Gal any time.He could have earned a lot more at other clubs, but stuck solid with the club.Bird continued on with his stupidity after the Sharks, and I breathed a sigh of relief he wasn't involved with my club.
Don
Roar Rookie
Thats because NSW kept picking a dummy half who was just as selfish… Coaches allowed it to keep happening. Farah gets a free kick from blame and the focus is always on Gallen. Gallen should have been applauded for putting himself in a position to take so many hit ups. His other forwards weren’t there… But it is up to the dummy half to ensure the ball goes where it needs to go. Farah more often then not took the Gal option or duffed a run or kick himself. Usually after he made a mistake he’s turn and yell at his team mates as if they’d caused him to kick out on the full. Look what happened when Ennis went to Cronulla? Gal was always there and was visibly annoyed when Ennis didn’t pass him the ball but Ennis went where the best option for the team was. As a QLD supporter if Gal had been from up here he would have been a Maroons legend. Cam Smith and the QLD guys really liked playing with him in Australian sides.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Ooh tough call mate. I follow the Sharks and will back big Gal till the cows come home, but Mr Bird never did sit well with me and I was glad to see him go. Greg was cast in the mould of Les Boyd, good footy player when he concentrated on actually playing footy and not just hurting other people. I can't comment on his character as a human being but his rap sheet is not good reading.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The crazy part he was a good rugby league player, with the odd bit of over the top play . Off the field ,he would be one of the last footballers I'd want to have any dealings with.The offield incident at Cronulla ,turned me off him completely, without going into details.
Sammy
Guest
As a NSW fan I was always disappointed with the selfishness of both Greg Bird and Paul Gallen in those SOO losses. These blokes seemed to be more interested in stats as they took way too many unnecessary hit-ups, sometimes twice in a set of six. The “made for Origin” tag was a flawed concept which overlooked the basic value of being a team player.
Isabella
Guest
You are completely wrong. The real quote is about predicting violent behaviour based on past violent behaviour associated with the behaviours of serial killers and DV offenders. Stop twisting quotes you are clueless about for your own agenda.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Bird was the poster child for anyone you’d label a grub. At origin level his grubby tactics cost NSW dearly and his continued selection based on the old “made for origin” tag was also costly. If he’d just knuckled down and tried to beat QLD by just running hard and tackling hard he could have made a big difference in all those losses. Alas he focused more on trying to unsettle a superior QLD side with grubby underhanded tactics. Should have been rubbed out of the NRL sooner.
adam smith
Guest
Took the words right out of my mouth...the glassing incident is a disgrace.
Curtis Loew
Guest
Having said that . If you were fighting in the trenches , he’d be a man you want along side you .
Kurt S
Roar Pro
I thought Bird played the big games well. He did have a few stupid penalties in him that often hurt his team, no doubt. His off field misdemeanors were more a lack of maturity for the most part. He seemed to be a fair team player and ran hard. He was handy in several positions so he was good to have in a rep side. But to my thinking his greatest asset was his ability to rock a 1970's mo without looking creepy. That is no mean feat.
Bone
Roar Rookie
Agreed bro..both top draw footy fullas..o.k....a little outside the parameters.. everything so sqecky clean these days,but these fullas cut there yeah when shit was still going down...the good old. Days..I prefer them...me..da dinosaur