The Birdman to Soar down South
By CHRIS SANDS
Disgraced Cronulla Sharks Lock Greg Bird has set his sights back down under after his manager, Gavin Orr, approached the Gold Coast Titans for a second chance in National Rugby League.
Titans managing director, Michael Searle, has made it clear that the club would be willing to help resurrect the former international’s NRL career but no contracts or arrangements have been signed to date.
‘I’ve given a view, an opinion on what I truly believe – the game does owe players like him another opportunity if they have served their dues,’ said Searle.
‘I think the game is more about trying change people’s lives and also giving them an opportunity to redeem themselves and if I didn’t believe in that we would never have assisted other players.’
Bird will meet with Searle and Titans coach, John Cartwright, in October when they travel to the UK for an international tournament yet Searle has stated Bird will need to take an active role in the club’s community programs if he is to be considered for selection.
‘We would want to speak with Greg and his girlfriend to work through their relationship subject to the court appeal outcome and he would have to be actively involved in a lot of the club’s community projects,’ Searle said.
‘I would be happier if we made a positive influence on his life first and foremost and if he goes well in his football then that’s good too.’
Searle believes that being at the club could have a positive impact on his life with the likes of role models such as Preston Campbell helping the origin star back on track.
Searle outlined that though Bird will probably receive much more lucrative offers from international clubs, the best the Titans can offer him is a season-to-season contract to see how he fits the mould.
‘(Any offer) would be an incentive-based contract, a one season deal not dissimilar to what the club did with Chris Walker,’ Searle told The Gold Coast Bulletin.
Bird has stated his reasons for wanting to return to the NRL are premiership motivated and that he would love nothing more than to repay the Titans with a premiership if they were to throw him a lifeline.
‘I would love to come to the Gold Coast,’ Birds’ representation told the Bulletin.
‘One of the reasons I want to return to the NRL is to win a premiership and the way the Titans played this year, with the quality players they have on their roster, they aren’t far away.’
Bird has been playing in the UK Super League for Catalans Dragons and has recently been suspended from the team after being handed a one match ban for a reckless tackle resulting in him missing a European Super League match against Salford.
Bird was originally accused of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, after glassing his girl friend, Katie Milligan, in August earlier this year.
Milligan suffered a fractured eye socket and lacerated left eye as a repercussion of the incident but has stood by the NRL star acting as a character reference.
Bird was given an eight months suspended sentence but has lodged an appeal to the conviction and is to face a court in Sydney in November later this year.
Searle has stated that even if Bird is convicted in November and serves jail time, he will be willing to give the lock forward another chance after realising how determined he is for the truth to come out about the incident.
NRL CEO David Gallop has differing opinions on the matter and has refused to state whether the NRL administration will allow Bird to compete professionally in Australia regardless of the outcome of his trial.
“We will wait for the outcome of Greg’s appeal before we consider the matter further,” he said.
