Greg Bird caught in a net of shame
August 25th 2008 09:16
What next - Greg Bird could be joining Todd Carney overseas
All Rugby League fans thought it was behind him. No more controversy, just a solid kid who was now starting to realise the talent that won him two consecutive man of the match awards in Origin football and two tests for Australia.
The incident of 2004 started it all. Bird obtained notoriety after kneeing former South Sydney winger Shane Marteene in the head during their round four clash, which resulted in him not only being sent off by the referee but a 10 week suspension from the judiciary.
Former Chief executive of the club, Steve Rogers claimed that Bird had "been made an example of".
Or so we thought.
Fans were made to believe the lingering time bomb in Bird's career was stopped. It was temporarily, with the Sharks lock - five-eighth, experiencing good form in 2005 and 2006.
2006 was the year everything looked so right for the now troubled star. Bird had a strong year and was voted as the Cronulla Sharks Player of the Year despite missing seven games of the season through injury.
If that wasn't enough of a smokescreen, Bird posed for the Naked Rugby League 2007-08 charity calendar, which was produced to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Bird's career was indeed chirping along nicely. Despite the good things done, there were still some feathers ruffled.
In March 2006, Bird was alleged to have sent model Lara Bingle inappropriate text messages.
Bird denied this with Sharks spokesman Rob Willis saying "Greg's thrown up his hands... He says he's done nothing inappropriate. There's been nothing obscene written. There's been no harassment.".
No harassment and no worries for Greg Bird. That was until another alarm went off on the aftermath of NSW's Origin 2 loss to QLD earlier this year.
Bird claimed he was "jokingly" arrested outside a Brisbane nightclub as part of a practical joke by Queensland Police.
Queensland Police responded in a press release stating Bird was arrested after he failed to follow police instructions. He was released after five minutes without charge.
Although false alarms were raised, Bird has had the untimely luck of just being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Although his 183cm,103kg frame would do well in defending Bird from any physical harm, the same cannot be said about his integrity in Rugby League and social circles.
The West Maitland junior has had his fair share of critics over the years, questioning his behaviour and commitment to the NRL off the field.
Only now will those people take a stand and say 'I told you so'.
On the eve of the 2008 finals and possibly an elusive Sharks premiership, Bird has been detained by police for allegedly assaulting a 24-year old woman, apparently attacking her with such force she is undergoing surgery due to a fractured eye socket and facial injuries.
Sharks CEO Tony Zappa has stood Bird down for the rest of the season to sort out his actions or more likely his future.
Unfortunately for Bird, August 2008 could be the last we see of a man who never had the strength to reign under fire.
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Comment by Nick Bendel
Sport: The Australian Disease