“There’s no bad blood,” Bird clarified. “I played under Flanno for a while and still have close relationships at the Dragons, but I’m not looking back.”
The 29-year-old NRL veteran, boasting 156 games, has already marked the Magic Round clash against the Dragons on his calendar. Bird humorously recounted a recent encounter with Flanagan, saying, “I told him, ‘you’re going to regret it.’ But that’s just a gee up. He reckons he’s going to make me do 80 tackles. I said I’d make 30 and come off.”
Now with the Tigers, Bird faces the challenge of lifting the club out of its slump, with the team having secured three consecutive wooden spoons. Yet, he remains undeterred, boldly predicting a resurgence.
“Our goal is to make the top eight. We haven’t been there for a while, but with the signings we’ve made, I see a bright future here,” Bird said. “I couldn’t care less about the wooden spoons. I’m here to change the culture and prove we can compete at the top level. I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”
Bird’s defiant stance and determination have already ignited anticipation for the upcoming season, with fans eagerly watching to see if he can help the Tigers rewrite their narrative.
