Bird leaves mixed legacy with Titans

LOVE him or loathe him, there’s little doubt fierce competitor Greg Bird had a massive impact in his seven seasons with the Gold Coast Titans.

From helping the club to within a win of a grand final, becoming a co-captain with Nate Myles and leading the Coast back into the top eight after a six-year absence; to being suspended for on-field discretions and losing the captaincy for those off it; Bird was a polarising figure that will not soon be forgotten. But his legacy is complicated. There’s no doubt Bird will leave a massive void in the playing ranks.

Over 129 games in seven seasons, Bird was perhaps the most competitive and uncompromising player to ever have pulled on a Gold Coast jumper. Teammates loved playing with him, opponents hated taking him on.

An Origin and Australian representative, he made the Titans better on the field.

Unfortunately for Bird, that’s not the full story.

His constant run-ins with authority and off-field indiscretions meant Bird was a controversial figure — even for his greatest supporters.

“He was definitely a polarising character,’’ Titans chief executive Graham Annesley said.

“People loved him if he played for their team and they loved to hate him if he played for the opposition team.

“He was very passionate and played on the edge all the time — I don’t mean on the edge of the field, on the edge of the rules sometimes — but I don’t think whatever anyone thought of him personally, I don’t think anyone could ever knock his competitiveness or will to win.’’

It’s that competitive streak former Titans football manager and Channel 9 commentator Scott Sattler believes the Gold Coast will miss the most as Bird wings his way to France to join Super League outfit Catalans on a rich five-year deal.

“I truly believe that Greg Bird’s been one of the best signings that Gold Coast have ever had,’’ Sattler said.

“I think the legacy that he leaves, he’s set a platform for a lot of young forwards coming through as to how they need to approach the game from an aggression point of view but also stamping your authority on a game. But in regards to what he’ll leave here from a playing point of view, it’s a huge hole to fill and I think because they’ve had a successful year this year making the finals, they probably need to replace him with a like-minded player, someone like an Elijah Taylor or a Lewis Brown that have probably still got a lot of years left in them.’’ Sattler said Ryan James was a great example of the positive influence that Bird had had on the Titans. “He has set a bit of a platform for how opposition teams view the Gold Coast Titans and I believe Ryan James has jumped on to the back of that,’’ Sattler told the Bulletin. “(James) has always played an aggressive role but sometimes he used to go over the top but now he’s playing a really controlled aggressive game. “I’ve got no doubt that Ryan James has learnt a lot off Greg Bird with how you need to approach the game in an aggressive manner.’’ Bird lost the Titans co-captaincy at the end of 2014 after being caught urinating in public at Byron Bay and was overlooked for a formal leadership role last season after captain Nate Myles left the club. Regardless, he was the man others followed.

“You’ve got a player in every team that’s a spiritual captain and I believe Greg Bird was that for the Gold Coast,’’ Sattler said.

“He’s the sort of guy that doesn’t need the C next to his name but will just assume that role naturally just the way that he plays the game.

“When the game’s in the balance and the result is really tight, he’s the guys that’s going to do everything he can to get his team out of the trenches.’’

That was the feeling of the majority of fans, who acknowledged Bird’s controversial nature but continually forgave him because of his ability. Titans Legion member and long-term fan Dan Meyer said he would remember Bird as a player that gave his all.

“I know there’s all the off-field drama but on the football field he is a good player,’’ Meyer said.

“It’ll be 50-50 (how he’s remembered by the fans). Some fans will say he’ll be remembered for his off-field dramas but most will be for his on-field performances.

“Hopefully we can find someone to replace him.

“If not, it’s like the start of this year, we roll with the squad (we’ve got) and if someone comes off contract we can make them an offer and see.’’