By David Beniuk
November 26th 2009 @ 2:36am
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Bird registration not automatic, says Gallop
NRL boss David Gallop says any club wanting to sign Greg Bird will need to demonstrate how they’ll manage the controversial star before he can be registered.
Gallop said Bird’s successful appeal which overturned a reckless wounding conviction on Wednesday did not mean the former Test five-eighth, who has a history of off-field misdemeanours, would be automatically re-registered by the league.
“We fully respect the decision in the court,” Gallop told reporters on Wednesday.
“If a club looks to sign Greg then clearly we need to look at the issue of registration of a contract.
“There’d be a range of factors that we would want some information about.
“Clearly that club would need to be thinking in terms of how they’re going to help him manage his situation.
“He’s been through a difficult time no doubt but he’s had issues before … he would fall into a category of a player that we would be looking for any prospective club to give us an idea of how they’re going to deal with him.”
Gallop was speaking at the NRL’s annual football conference where the focus has been the off-field misbehaviour contorversies which have plagued the league in 2009.
The conference’s keynote address came from the NFL’s director of football operations, who spoke about how the American game deals with off-field incidents and backed the NRL’s case-by-case, club-based approach.
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Mick from Giralang said | November 26th 2009 @ 5:32am | Report comment
Cowboys and Gold Coast are the leading contenders to sign him. Be interesting to see what “conditions” the NRL can impose on him. Technically, of course, he’s an innocent man.
Matt S said | November 27th 2009 @ 8:13am | Report comment
Sportspeople from other codes have been convicted and continue to play. Some get away with things and become celebrated heroes ala Michael O’Loughlin, so I see no reason for barriers to be placed in front of Bird
Nick the Rooster said | November 27th 2009 @ 8:37am | Report comment
I think David Gallop should stop worrying about Greg Bird and focus his efforts on the AFL, driving more money into rugby league and keeping players like Jarred Hayne in the game.
Redb said | November 27th 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
The Daily Telegraph would be proud.