Greg Bird broke from Origin camp to watch the Titans play on Monday in a rare visit to the Gold Coast during a hectic past five weeks.
The Titans' NSW Origin veteran has been home for just two nights since May 21 when he left for Penrith the day before the round 11 clash with the Panthers.
After the match he was chauffeured to the Blues hotel in Sydney. The day after Origin I on June 1, Birdy headed back to the Gold Coast for one night only before leaving next day for Perth where the team was playing South Sydney.
From there it was to Darwin to play the Eels, and a return late Sunday on June 13. Next morning he headed to Coffs Harbour to join the Blues’ Origin II camp and hasn’t been back since.
He at least was able to spend some of Monday near home, dropping in to see the Titans’ victory over Manly, after catching up with wife Becky and 10-week old daughter Finley in Brisbane.
By the time he returns to the Gold Coast tomorrow, it would have been 32 of 34 nights out of home. Yet he is keen to back up against the Raiders on Sunday after a well-earned rest day tomorrow.
Bird admits he misses Becky enough, but it has been even harder missing the rapid growth and character developing of Finley. He has been for half of her life.
“I want to be there for her. I want to see her grow, especially in the first couple of months. Every time I see her she’s changed,” he said.
On tonight’s do-or-die date for the Blues, he knows how tough the challenge is.
“It’s a difficult task going up there and playing them on their home turf in front of the Queensland crowd who are very passionate and loud. I enjoy the buzz I actually get out of that. Hopefully we can all band together and go up and make history.”
To get in early and book a good seat for Sunday’s clash with the Raiders, CLICK HERE
