Bird misses 8 weeks

[NSW Titan]

Don't forget too Bird left the nrl for a season aswell

[shamus]

29 weeks is ok LOL

Just remebered when my old man was playing he got suspended for 32 weeks in one hit.

32 weeks............must have been ONE big hit!

[Mexican titan]

32 weeks............must have been ONE big hit!

Not necessarily...Hopoate got 12 weeks just for a poke.

[teke]

Not necessarily...Hopoate got 12 weeks just for a poke.

[DavidBouveng]

Not necessarily...Hopoate got 12 weeks just for a poke.

you cant deliver that line and have a smiley face using a 'chocolate finger' to make a poking gesture. im eating here.

[Geeman]

Not necessarily...Hopoate got 12 weeks just for a poke.

Funniest thing I've read on here in a long time

[Toads]

Not necessarily...Hopoate got 12 weeks just for a poke.

But he got a few pokes in before he got pinged for it though?

[Smakked]

32 weeks............must have been ONE big hit!

It was mate, running flat out and lifted the elbow across the guys nose, he got a trophy that year for most tenacious player.

[JunctionBlock]

Gold Coast Titans hardman Greg Bird to count the cost after eight-match ban
TOM BOSWELL& DEAN RITCHIE GOLD COAST BULLETIN MAY 07, 2015 12:00AM

MISSING out on State of *Origin could be the least of Greg Bird’s problems with the Gold Coast Titan facing the possibility of losing a large chunk of his salary due to his eight-week suspension.

Bird was charged with a grade two dangerous throw by the NRL match review committee for his ugly tackle on New Zealand winger Jason Nightingale in last Sunday’s Test match.

It was Bird’s fourth dangerous throw charge in the past 12 months, his loading a whopping 150 per cent.

He pleaded guilty but sought a downgrade to a grade one, losing his case at the judiciary last night.

Had Bird won the case, he would have missed two games and been available for Origin I in Sydney on May 27.

The NRL judiciary panel of Chris McKenna, Bronson Harrison and Mal Cochrane took just 11 minutes to deny the downgrade.

The suspension means Bird will miss all three Origin games and won’t return for Gold Coast until Round 19.

Titans boss Graham Annesley said the club was yet to decide if it will invoke an NRL clause which gives them the power to sanction players who breach the rules of the sport or governing body both on and off the field. With Bird on an estimated $550,000 a year, his eight-game suspension could see him potentially lose a six-figure sum from his salary.

Annesley said the option to withhold pay was there but the club had made no decision as to what course of action it would take and had planned no meeting to discuss the outcome of the judiciary.

“There are contractual rules around that kind of thing but the club hasn’t had a chance to consider anything at this stage.”

Titans boss Graham Annesley will not be drawn on whether the Titans will sanction Bird — shattered after Australia’s Anzac Test loss — following his eight-week ban for a lifting tackle.

END

Well if there was ever a time for club to make him feel like he's not wanted and to ship out it would be to try and invoke that clause.

[ozynorts]

Given his recent history with behavioural issues both on and off the field I think they should fine him. He is being paid a lot of money by the club and his reckless actions cost the club. He hasn't learnt his lesson about his tackling technique on the field so perhaps losing some cash might make him rethink it........

[Titanic]

I think 'fine' is the wrong word … he was playing for Australia and not the club and is subsequently unavailable therefore he should have his club salary withheld as he cannot perform his duties through his own actions … in summary why should the club pay him for work he can't do?

[Titanic]

However, I really have to add, surely the club has insurance indemnity against such a turn of events?

[JunctionBlock]

Would you have a no fault insurance policy? I would think they could take one out for injury but for suspension?

[Toads]

While Birdy has all this free time on his hands, the club should utilise him to do as much PR stuff as possible (when he isn't training). Admittedly, he's not one of our shining stars, but it just might be a wake up call that he might need to pull him into line while he's still with us.

Keep him earning his keep while is being kept off the paddock. Otherwise there's a reasonable chance that another off field incident could take place over the next 8 weeks..

Just a thought.

[K2G]

Marketing experts tip sponsors to shy away from Greg Bird
TOM BOSWELL GOLD COAST BULLETIN MAY 09, 2015 12:00AM



MONEY talks and it says there are a million reasons why Greg Bird is fast becoming the least marketable NRL player.

Sports marketing and player branding experts believe the Gold Coast forward stands to lose millions in potential earnings as a result of the damage to his personal brand in the wake of his eight-game ban for a lifting tackle on New Zealand’s Jason Nightingale.

Brand consultant and psychosomatic therapist Claire Kelly said a habit of “self- *sabotage” would have already resulted in Bird losing past revenue and greatly reducing his chances of new opportunities. “He is an interesting one from a marketing and branding perspective because of his repeated issues and problems with his behaviour,” Kelly said.

“I would say if I was a sponsor, I wouldn’t be backing him until he went deeper in to the reasons behind his behaviour.

“He knows he shouldn’t do it and I think he would have lost a bunch of contracts already and a lot of sponsors.

“It could cost him millions because who would want to sponsor or give a contract to someone who continually keeps repeating his negative actions?”

Kelly didn’t believe it was an intentional mindset but rather something that could be stopped.

“He is such a talented athlete and obviously brilliant when he is in form but the program keeps playing out and it needs to be a mental shift that stops it,” said the Gold Coast-based Kelly, a 2012 Australian Olympic volleyballer. “It is like a virus on a computer. You don’t know it is happening then one day the computer reboots itself and you find out the virus has been there for 10, 20 or 30 years.

“Greg would be aware of his self-sabotage but doesn’t do enough work to clear it.”

Brisbane-based Major League Marketing managing director Jason Greenhalgh said Bird and the Titans could suffer from his indiscretions.

“No doubt both the on-field and off-field stuff would have a negative impact,” he said.

“They would be seen by potential sponsors as a negative and the last thing they want to associate themselves with.

“It all comes back to their reputation and even in relation to sponsors for the Titans it’s the last thing they really want to see. Everyone loves a winner and if these things impact on the team winning, then it can be seen as a negative.

“The difficult thing with Greg in particular is that it has been one thing after another.

“I imagine he would be hard pressed to get any new sponsorships. I imagine any sponsors he may have had on board, unless they are very loyal, would have walked away by now.”

Dr Owen Wright, a lecturer at Griffith University’s Department of Marketing, believes fans will be turned away more by Bird’s suspension than any off-field incidents.

“Greg Bird has a long record of tackles of this type but in between he plays unbelievably good football,” Wright said.

“It is important to differentiate between football issues and broader social issues when considering the impact on a club’s brand. Social issues like pub fights, alcohol abuse and misogynistic attitudes damage the NRL as a brand.

“These are situations where incidents go beyond the context of just football. But issues inside football, such as Greg Bird tackles that are penalised and punished, do not affect a club anywhere near as much as social issues do.”