Gold Coast forward Greg Bird says he’s been disappointed with people making snap judgments about him after he was caught up in the NRL club’s cocaine scandal.
The NSW State of Origin star is set to return to a Gold Coast court on May 8 on two charges of supplying cocaine.
Bird’s lawyer has indicated his client as well as the seven other current or former Titans facing charges will all plead not guilty after they were implicated in a Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission investigation.
The 30-year-old has spoken for the first time about the past two months, saying the toughest thing has been dealing with people’s perceptions.
“It’s been hard… just, I guess, people not knowing,” Bird told Channel Nine.
“People assuming and making their own judgments with a lack of knowledge. It is disappointing.
“Sometimes we’re treated differently to the rest of the people. I know what I’ve done and I’m confident of what’s going to happen down the road.”
Bird, along with teammates Dave Taylor and Beau Falloon, have all resumed their NRL careers after being stood down for a month when news of the charges first broke.
The back-rower was one of the Titans’ best in their 24-22 win over Cronulla last week.
But he says the intense public scrutiny in the wake of the allegations has taken its toll on more than just the players involved.
“It affects everyone. It affects friends, family – my wife, who I’m massively sorry has to go through this,” he said.
Bird is on his last warning with the Titans after being stripped of the club’s co-captaincy and fined for a public urination incident following his wedding in Byron Bay last year.
He said regaining the leadership role is the last thing on his mind.
“The captaincy is the least of my worries,” he said.
“I’ll play like a captain whether I’ve got the `c’ there or not.”
Titans’ coach Neil Henry has also dismissed criticism that Bird may line up for Australia in the upcoming Anzac Test against New Zealand.
The match will be played in Brisbane on May 1, just a week before the court case is set for a mention at Southport Magistrates Court, but Henry says there’s no reason Bird shouldn’t play for the Kangaroos if picked.
“If he’s back playing in the NRL he should be eligible for rep footy,” Henry said.
“It’d be a bit ludicrous to say you can play NRL but you can’t represent your country or your state.”
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
So far the case looks like the ACCC are slinging balls of mud at people and hoping it sticks. Everyone's almost forgotten about Hunt and are more interested in Graham's job security considering hunt was fined a massive 2.5 THOUSAND dollars (what a victory for the prosecution) I'm surprised most people have moved past it so quickly. Word on the street is that Bird and co. are all but assured that the case will be thrown out.
cedric
Guest
column should be named, " Bird speaks around the cocaine saga "!