CRONULLA is set to investigate rumours suspended star Greg Bird trialled with an NFL team while on a trip to the US.
Bird, serving an indefinite suspension over allegedly glassing his girlfriend in August, has only just returned.
Rumours have circulated the New South Wales and Australia five-eighth spent time with a club or clubs in the NFL, a move which would place him in breach of contract.
Bird's manager Gavin Orr denied the rumours when contacted this week, but Sharks chief executive Tony Zappia confirmed he would investigate whether the suspended star had made contact with NFL teams.
Under the terms of Bird's contract, he is forbidden from taking part in any rival code without permission of the club.
Should the rumours be true, Bird would face instant dismissal.
Bird, who is due to face court this month on charges of reckless wounding, causing public mischief and giving false representation, is already on thin ice as a result of the incident involving his girlfriend Katie Milligan.
The pair has since reconciled and it is believed Milligan's father, a lawyer with ties to the NFL, may have helped organise trials for Bird while in the US.
Zappia hasn't spoken to Bird or Orr for several weeks and said he had received no notice of the Sharks star's overseas trip.
"We have heard the rumours," Zappia said.
"The club has had no confirmation from Greg that he went overseas.
"But we have heard the rumours and we will look into it."
Should Bird be sacked by the Sharks, he is unlikely to be allowed to play with another NRL club for at least 12 months.
Super League clubs have shown interest in Bird, but he has told friends he has no desire to play in England at this stage of his career.
Given Milligan is American, the NFL shapes as a potential alternative, although Bird, 24, has no experience in the sport and would face a long road if he were to make a successful transition.
Few Australians, other than punters, have enjoyed success in the NFL, although several have been earmarked as having the potential to make the switch.
The most notable was Bird's NSW and Australia team-mate Willie Mason, who trained with the New York Jets two years ago.
Meanwhile, rival clubs are circling Melbourne like vultures, but chief executive Brian Waldron has dismissed claims the Storm was in salary-cap crisis and would be forced to shed players to retain captain Cameron Smith.
Rumours have engulfed Melbourne since its defeat by Manly in the grand final, with most centring on the club's precarious financial position and the future of several players.
On Sydney radio two weeks ago, it was suggested salary-cap auditor Ian Schubert was refusing to register Melbourne contracts.
It was also rumoured Will Chambers and Steve Turner, both off contract at the end of next season, could become victims of the club's salary-cap predicament.
While Waldron dismissed suggestions Chambers and Turner were being shopped around, he admitted they had been told the Storm would not be in position to talk to them about 2010 until Smith's future was resolved.
It is understood several clubs, aware of the Storm's balancing act, have contacted the club and offered to take players such as Turner and Adam Blair should it ease the salary-cap squeeze.
Making the situation more difficult for the Storm is speculation over Smith's future.
He is off contract at the end of 2009 and in the sights of the Gold Coast, which is prepared to offer the Test hooker a five-year deal worth $2.5 million.
As part of its bid to retain Smith, the Storm could upgrade his contract for next season, a move that would place pressure on its salary cap.
"I don't think you can say we're in strife," Waldron said.
"Every club is tight. We're no different to anyone.
"We just saw Amos Roberts leave the Sydney Roosters for England.
"At the end of the day, all that matters is we're under the cap for next season.
"We're not shopping Steve Turner around at all.
"When we sort out issues relating to our captain, we will be in position to deal with our players coming off contract at the end of 2009.
"We want to keep Will. To be fair to his manager we need to work out what we can afford before we make any offer."
The Storm has been a victim of its own success in recent seasons, leaving it open to pillaging by rivals.
Next season it will be without several of its grand final stars, including Israel Folau and Michael Crocker.
