Refreshed Bird not giving up on Origin

He may have been axed by NSW for game three but Greg Bird isn’t giving up on his State of Origin career.

The 31-year-old was the biggest casualty from NSW’s loss in game two last month which condemned them to a 10th series defeat in the past 11 years.

And while it would seem his dumping by selectors brings down the curtain on his 18-Origin career, Bird himself is holding out hope of a recall in 2017.

“You’ve just got to go out and earn your position back, that’s all there is to do,” Bird told NRL.com.

“They have said that they’re going to make a change for younger players to come in but if you’re good enough you’re old enough – or young enough – so hopefully I can let my footy do the talking next year and fight my way back.”

Bird can see a silver lining in his dumping however, ensuring he’s physically fresh to help Gold Coast’s tilt at a first NRL finals berth since 2010.

The Titans head into this Friday’s clash with St George Illawarra just two points behind the eighth-placed Dragons and very much in finals contention.

Bird says delivering for his club team is all he’s now focused on after his Origin disappointment.

“Having three matches in 10 days for the first game does knock the body around but having the week off to freshen up, I’m really raring to go for the last eight games that are left,” he said.

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