Origin hate spills into Test team

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Greg Bird and Greg Inglis during a brawl during State of Origin 2. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

NSW Origin specialist Greg Bird has claimed relations between the Blues and Maroons players have reached a bitter climax, with personal tensions now flowing over into the Australian Test team.

According to Bird, the resentment of watching Queensland gloat over seven straight Origin wins has bred a new-found hatred in NSW players that's being actively passed to newcomers in the team.

The first hint of strained relations within the national squad came at the end of last October's Test win over New Zealand, when Maroons players ripped into a rendition of Queensland's victory song during the trophy presentation.

Blues skipper Paul Gallen has also spoken about players from the rival states eating meals at separate tables while in Test camp.

But ahead of next Wednesday's decider, Bird provided another insight of just how far the rivalry has deepened.

"I think the rivalry is a lot bigger," Bird said.

"You can tell in the Australian team that the rivalry is there. 

"It's definitely stronger than back in 2007 when I debuted."

Asked for examples that illustrated the green and gold split, Bird responded: "Little things you notice with the naked eye. The feeling between the two teams. I enjoy it."

Bird said previous coach Ricky Stuart had reinvigorated a culture of hate within the Blues squad.

Rather than be content to just to reach Origin, Bird said incoming Blues players were being encouraged to enter the game's loftiest arena with hate for their rivals.

"I probably had not learned all there was to learn about hatred," he said.

"I think that was revisited through the Ricky Stuart era.

"That's something this squad is built on and we're trying to pass it down to the next group of players.

"You realise it's not just another game. As a younger player I was just happy to be there. Now I've been playing for a while you know what it's like. You realise the intensity of the emotion."

Bird said his hate for Queensland came from the pain of losing so many times.

"I definitely hate losing ... everything comes from that," he said.

"If we were on the other side and won seven series in a row, I don't know if the hatred is as strong."

Bird is yet to play in a Sydney decider, having been robbed of his only chance by a knee injury in 2008.

Fate appeared set to repeat itself when Bird rolled his ankle on Saturday, but the tough lock rated himself a "certainty" to play after casting off his moon boot on Wednesday.

Gallen is also expected to overcome a foot injury to line-up, giving the long-time friends a chance to create history together.

"We've had all the highs and lows with each other," Bird said.

"We've never been involved in a grand final. Origin is the be-all and end-all, this is our biggest game." 

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