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NRL halts Bird's secret return
By David Riccio | February 15, 2009 12:00am
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Failed plan ... Greg Bird had planned to play for the Newtown Jets. / The Sunday Telegraph
SACKED Test star Greg Bird had a secret plan to play against his former Cronulla team-mates yesterday quashed at the final hour. Bird and his management team tried to bend the rules and have the former Sharks five-eighth play for the Newtown Jets in a trial match against Cronulla at Henson Park. It would have been his first game in six months.
NRL administrators were privately fuming that Bird, on the advice of his manager Gavin Orr, aimed to deceive the NRL and take on his former team-mates.
It is understood that Orr contacted Newtown officials on Friday evening, only hours after Bird was denied a UK work visa to allow him play in the English Super League.
By aiming to play, Bird went against terms of his release from Cronulla that state he cannot play for another NRL club.
Competing in the NSWRL competition, which is considered to come under the NRL umbrella, the Newtown Jets are a direct feeder club to the Roosters.
When made aware by The Sunday Telegraph that Bird, and his management, were attempting to flout the rules, NSWRL general manager and ARL chief executive Geoff Carr contacted Newtown officials to block the move.
Carr also phoned NRL chief executive David Gallop, who backed the moves to prevent Bird from taking the field.
"We got in contact with the Newtown club and it appeared to be factual,'' Carr said of Bird's plan.
"We've said to the Newtown club that Greg Bird is currently an unregistered player.
"Given the circumstances of his particular case, he would need to apply for registration and only then would it be duly considered.
"At real short notice like this, we don't know what the deed of release with Cronulla was.
"We don't know what restrictions are there, if any, about where he can and can't play. And without having an application for registration, we reserve the right not to allow him to play today.''
Cronulla Sharks chief executive Tony Zappia was shocked when told of Bird's attempt to play against the Sharks.
"I'm surprised and quite astounded, actually, that Greg and his manager would attempt to play for Newtown based on the terms of his release from the club,'' Zappia said.
Despite yesterday's thwarted attempt, Bird is expected to lodge a formal application to play with Newtown in the NSWRL competition.
"Terry tells me there will be a contract on my desk on Monday morning which will start that process,'' Carr said.
"Terry's of the view that if he's allowed to play under the deed of release from Cronulla, in another competition, then he's pretty keen for him to get a game.
"We can't allow him to play until we've gone through that process.
"At the end of the day, if everyone thinks that's a good idea, well he might be playing next week.''
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25055831-5006066,00.html
By David Riccio | February 15, 2009 12:00am
<DIV class="article-body rank1" id=article-body>
SACKED Test star Greg Bird had a secret plan to play against his former Cronulla team-mates yesterday quashed at the final hour. Bird and his management team tried to bend the rules and have the former Sharks five-eighth play for the Newtown Jets in a trial match against Cronulla at Henson Park. It would have been his first game in six months.
NRL administrators were privately fuming that Bird, on the advice of his manager Gavin Orr, aimed to deceive the NRL and take on his former team-mates.
It is understood that Orr contacted Newtown officials on Friday evening, only hours after Bird was denied a UK work visa to allow him play in the English Super League.
By aiming to play, Bird went against terms of his release from Cronulla that state he cannot play for another NRL club.
Competing in the NSWRL competition, which is considered to come under the NRL umbrella, the Newtown Jets are a direct feeder club to the Roosters.
When made aware by The Sunday Telegraph that Bird, and his management, were attempting to flout the rules, NSWRL general manager and ARL chief executive Geoff Carr contacted Newtown officials to block the move.
Carr also phoned NRL chief executive David Gallop, who backed the moves to prevent Bird from taking the field.
"We got in contact with the Newtown club and it appeared to be factual,'' Carr said of Bird's plan.
"We've said to the Newtown club that Greg Bird is currently an unregistered player.
"Given the circumstances of his particular case, he would need to apply for registration and only then would it be duly considered.
"At real short notice like this, we don't know what the deed of release with Cronulla was.
"We don't know what restrictions are there, if any, about where he can and can't play. And without having an application for registration, we reserve the right not to allow him to play today.''
Cronulla Sharks chief executive Tony Zappia was shocked when told of Bird's attempt to play against the Sharks.
"I'm surprised and quite astounded, actually, that Greg and his manager would attempt to play for Newtown based on the terms of his release from the club,'' Zappia said.
Despite yesterday's thwarted attempt, Bird is expected to lodge a formal application to play with Newtown in the NSWRL competition.
"Terry tells me there will be a contract on my desk on Monday morning which will start that process,'' Carr said.
"Terry's of the view that if he's allowed to play under the deed of release from Cronulla, in another competition, then he's pretty keen for him to get a game.
"We can't allow him to play until we've gone through that process.
"At the end of the day, if everyone thinks that's a good idea, well he might be playing next week.''
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25055831-5006066,00.html
