No hard feelings on Bird release

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has denied Cronulla young gun Jack Bird is the one that got away for the Dragons, as the Berkeley product looks to come back and haunt his junior club at Kogarah on Sunday.

Bird was the star of the Dragons NYC side that reached the preliminary final last year under current first grade assistants Dean Young and Ben Hornby. He represented the NSW under 20s and Junior Kangaroos in a standout season.

It left some fans livid the Dragons would let one of their best juniors move to their arch-rivals this year.

While Bird's rapid rise to Country Origin selection after five NRL matches has been hard to watch for the Red V faithful, the sting has been eased somewhat by the Dragons' strong start to the season that has put them second on the ladder heading into Sunday's local derby

Bird's path to the No6 jumper at the Dragons was blocked by Gareth Widdop, while the club was also well-stocked for back-rowers - where Bird primarily played in the NYC - with Tyson Frizell and Joel Thompson both a hair off playing alongside Trent Merrin in Origin.

The Dragons' well-publicised salary cap squeeze also made it hard for the club to splash out on a player who was still untested at NRL level.

With the Sharks promising a quicker path to the NRL, McGregor said he holds no grudges over Bird's decision to move on.

"He didn't really get away, he wanted to go and he left," McGregor said.

"I've known Jack for a very long time, I coached his junior side. I've got a huge opinion of Jack and I always will. He's a great kid and he's making a real fist of first grade with limited opportunities. He's playing good footy and they're a side that's playing good footy. They've won four of their past six and he's been a big part that. We've got a fair five-eighth in Gareth up against him, so it'll be a nice interesting afternoon."

Widdop faced a similar decision to leave home in Melbourne to put his stamp on the NRL with the Dragons but he hopes Bird doesn't reproduce his recent dynamic form.

"They're big decisions you have to make in your career, it's only a short career," Widdop said.

"He's a great kid Birdy and a great player, so I'm pleased for him that he's doing well there. He's going well but hopefully he doesn't play too well on the weekend. We'll do our homework on him and I'm looking forward to it."

McGregor said the Dragons are expecting Sharks and NSW skipper Paul Gallen to make his return from the buttock injury that kept him out of Origin I on Wednesday.

"His team needs him at the moment, so I think he'll roll himself out there for sure," McGregor said.

NRL

Round 12

Sunday

DRAGONS v SHARKS

Jubilee Oval, Kogarah (4pm)

TV: Live on WIN