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 gained 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 receiving a 10 week suspension from the judiciary on top of it.
Former Chief Executive of the club, the late Steve Rogers, claimed that Bird had “been made an example of.”
Or so we thought.
Fans were led to believe that the lingering time bomb in Bird’s career was stopped. And it was, temporarily, with the Sharks player experiencing good form in 2005 and 2006.
Indeed, 2006 was the year that everything looked right for the now troubled star. Bird had a strong year and was voted 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 chirping along nicely.
But, despite the good things done, there were still some signs of trouble.
In March 2006, Bird was alleged to have sent model Lara Bingle inappropriate text messages.
He 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 Two 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 his 183cm, 103kg frame would do well in defending him 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.
Now those people will 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 for 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.
Love this article? Nominate it for The Roar’s Armchair Sports Writer Award. Or vote now for this week’s nominated articles.
"When can you start speaking to clubs? I've got a mate."
To paraphrase Bill Woodfull, there were two teams out there at Shark Park on Sunday but only one of them was playing wet-weather footy.…
It's been an epidemic of trips this season. Tyrell Sloan was placed on report for this one on Sione Katoa. Is it finally time…
Ronaldo Mulitalo briefly gave up his label as chief troll. It lasted about five minutes as the Sharks winger gave Mikaele Ravalawa a gobful…
It was a pretty miserable half for Nicho Hynes and the Sharks. The Dragons led Cronulla 10-6 at the break.
Nicho Hynes has not quite made an undeniable case to be Nathan Cleary’s halves partner for NSW but he should be the first five-eighth…
