A week ago Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle gave the Titans no hope of signing representative star Greg Bird. In fact, Searle suggested the club had only been linked to the sacked Cronulla star to throw the media off the scent.

“I don’t think he will come here, there are a couple of other clubs chasing him and we’ve really got nothing much to offer him except an opportunity to play on the Gold Coast,” Searle told AAP at the time.

That opportunity and a special match payments deal worth about $150,000 could just be enough to land the Titans a bargain basement 2010 buy.

Searle met with Bird on Thursday and has given 25-year-old NSW Origin and Test player one week to accept the club’s offer.

Apart from detailing the Titans’ offer Searle also outlined the club’s expectations on its players to Bird during their meeting.

Bird’s American girlfriend, Katie Milligan, was with him as he inspected the Titans’ training and playing set-up on the Gold Coast.

She will head back to the United States tomorrow to be with her ill father.

The pair flew back to Sydney on Thursday impressed with what they saw.

“She enjoyed it, she enjoyed the town, it’s similar to south Florida where she is from,” Bird told the Seven Network.

“It hasn’t been easy over the last year or so,” added Bird who has seven days to give the Titans his answer.

“I’ve heard they’re a pretty close knit bunch of guys up there, a one-team town.”

The Titans refused to reveal any details of the offer put to Bird, who is also considering a reported $500,000 two-year deal to re-sign with French UK Super League club Les Catalans, coached by Australian Kevin Walters.

Sacked by Cronulla in January, Bird last week had a conviction for reckless wounding against Milligan quashed.

North Queensland and Brisbane had reportedly been interested in talking to Bird but dropped out earlier this week.

Meanwhile Brisbane prop Joel Clinton will not be part of the club’s 2010 premiership bid after being released from the final year of his $250,000-a-season contract.

Clinton is now expected to pursue a possible Super League deal with Hull KR.

© AAP 2012

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