Rogers would make way for Bird at Titans

It could cost him his No.6 jumper but Mat Rogers would love to see Greg Bird resume his NRL career with Gold Coast.

With Bird weighing up his club options after successfully overturning a conviction of recklessly wounding his girlfriend, Rogers said on Wednesday he would welcome fellow five-eighth Bird at the Titans.

And Rogers is ready to sit on the bench if that is what it takes to secure the former Test star.

Gold Coast are favoured to snare Bird if he returns to the NRL, after North Queensland reportedly pulled out of the chase, but Bird is still considering returning to Les Catalans in France where he played this year after being cut loose by Cronulla.

“He’ll be a great asset wherever he ends up and if that’s us he will strengthen our squad and you need more than 17 players to win a comp these days,” Rogers said.

Rogers wasn’t worried about any baggage the controversial Bird could bring with him given the club’s culture and reputation under coach John Cartwright.

“Look, it doesn’t matter who you are, if you don’t (behave) you won’t be at the Titans,” said Rogers.

“That’s the mandate that comes from the top and I think all the players take pride in that and pride in what we’ve started to build here on the Gold Coast.

“I’m sure if he comes here, he’ll be coming here to play footy and we’d looking forward to having him.”

Would he look forward to possibly handing over his position in the team to him though?

“It doesn’t bother me, honestly,” said Rogers.

“Very few players play 24 games a year, I think we had one last season and none the year before.

“We need a squad of players that when someone’s out, they can step in and deliver.

“Having Greg Bird would add to that. Whether he starts, whether he plays back-row, five-eighth, it doesn’t bother me.

“It doesn’t bother me where I play.

“If what’s best for the team is me sitting on the bench, then I’ll sit on the bench or if I have to watch, I’ll watch, that’s how it is.”

Rogers was one of a dozen NRL stars who had lunch with 60 children from Camp Quality and other charities at the One Community Christmas lunch at Sea World on the Gold Coast on Wednesday.

“It’s pretty emotional and inspiring to be honest and it would be great if this (charity work) was the headline in the newspaper more regularly,” said Rogers.

Rogers, whose young son Max suffers from autism, was all for players doing what they could to cheer kids battling illnesses and also their parents.

“It brings a tear to your eye, speaking to some of the parents,” said Rogers.

“As a parent with a kid with challenges, it can really take it’s toll and wear you out, so it’s great the kids and the parents and players can all have a good day together.

© 2010 AAP