Jack Bird and Shane Flanagan found premiership success at Cronulla – but they will be public enemy No.1 when they return to Shark Park for the first time together on Sunday.
The pair helped the club to its maiden title in 2016, with Bird cementing himself as one of the game’s brightest young talents and a future representative star.
However, after signing a big-money deal with the Broncos, the utility suffered multiple injury setbacks before moving back home to the Dragons, while Flanagan was deregistered by the NRL over salary cap breaches during his time at the Sharks.
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Fast-forward to 2024 and the pair are now working side-by-side once again, this time with Cronulla’s arch-rivals, and the barbs have already started to be thrown.
Flanagan brought up the fact the Sharks haven’t won a premiership since he was at the club, while Bird stoked the flame on Tuesday by bringing up the “little brother, big brother” comparisons that have been a major part of the decades-long feud.
”It’s massive … I feel like there’s a bit of tension between the two clubs,” he said.
“I don’t think they like each other very much and the fans definitely don’t like one another. Whoever wins are the big brother … it’s just a one-up thing there.
“I’ve played for both teams and it means something special for the clubs. We’ve got to try and be the big brother this week.
“I remember when I used to play at the Sharks, we used to hate the Dragons and vice versa [now that i’m here]. There’s gonna be a bit of tension.”
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While all that separates the two proud clubs is a few kilometres and vastly different opinions on who is the kingpin of the region, the major difference right now comes on the NRL ladder, with the Sharks sitting pretty in first and the Saints outside the eight.
Cronulla are coming off a huge win over the Raiders in round eight that further flexed their premiership muscle, while St George Illawarra were on the wrong end of a shellacking against the Roosters on Anzac Day.
Heading into this weekend, both teams have plenty to play for – but Flanagan’s unceremonious exit in 2018 is still a major talking point on both sides of the Tom Ugly’s Bridge and will likely see him met with a less-than-stellar reception come gameday.
But according to Bird – who is one of Flanagan’s favourite sons – there is still only one “king of the Shire” as far the coach is concerned.
“He coached there for a very long time and I think it might be his first time going back there as head coach at another club,” he said.
“It’s obviously a soft spot for him and he’s probably just a little bit excited and eager to get out there and get one over his old team.
“It’s gonna be a bit of a touchy one for him. I’m sure he wants to go back there on a good note … he’d be pretty excited to get back there and tell all his mates that he is still the king of the Shire. Hopefully we can get a win for him and for the team.
“They’re a very good team and they are coming first for a reason … hopefully we come away with the win, but it’s not gonna be any easier for us.”
Bird played his best football at the Sharks, becoming a five-time NSW representative in 2016 and 2017, but has failed to reach those heights since departing the club.
The 29-year-old will play his 150th game this weekend almost a decade after his first grade debut and acknowledged the difficult road it took to reach the milestone.
“150 games, it’s obviously taken its time – I have been around for a while now,” Bird said.
“It’s been a while … it’s a full circle moment.
“I got my debut for the Sharks at Shark Park and to play my 150th there against my old club where it all started, I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s gonna be a bit emotional, but exciting as well.”
