Opposing locks Greg Bird and Paul Gallen are the most hardened and most established players in tomorrow’s clash between the Aquis Titans and Cronulla Sharks with 48 Test match and 37 State of Origin appearances between them.
They wear their hearts on their sleeves, have perhaps the greatest ability of the 34 players on show to lift their team with their on-field deeds and tough-nut attitude.
And they love the big stage.
How they lead their packs, and rip into their work as well as each other when they come face to face, will be a focal point of the contest.
The former Sharks teammates are good mates who have played many Origin games for NSW together, have had contrasting starts to 2016 with Bird in great form while playing all five games for the Titans while Gallen made his return from injury off the bench against Wests Tigers last Sunday after missing the previous month.
Let’s look at how the match up:
GREG BIRD
Games in 2016: 5
Career NRL games: 218
Tests: 17. Origins: 16
Age: 31
Weight: 102kg Height: 182cm
Debut: 2002 (rd 7 for Cronulla)
2016
Games: 5
Average metres per game: 108
Average tackles per game: 24
Hit ups per game: 11
Tackle busts: 8
Offloads: 8
Line breaks: 0
Try assists: 3
PAUL GALLEN
Games in 2016: 5
Career NRL games: 260
Tests: 31. Origins: 21
Age: 34
Weight: 104kg Height: 180cm
Debut: 2001 (for Cronulla rd 15)
2016
Games: 2
Average metres per game: 132
Average tackles per game: 23
Hit ups per game: 13
Tackle busts: 2
Offloads: 2
Line breaks: 1
Try assists: 0
